LP/career guidance

(: Good work. Kindly use appropriate pedagogical templates to enhance this work.

--Victor P. K. Mensah 12:49, 13 March 2009 (UTC))

CAREER GUIDANCE

INTRODUCTION

Definition

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Career guidance refers to services or information provided for students to make educational or training choices after completing their general education.

IMPORTANCE OF CAREER GUIDANCE

The importance of career guidance cannot be over-emphasized. Everybody in life has dreams and they expect systems to change their lives. However, they do not know how to reach their destination. The career guidance is very essential as it directs the way. It equips people with all the knowledge they need to realise their dreams.

It is through proper guidance that people can make realistic choices that meet the needs of their countries, as well as fulfil their desires in life. The guidance ensures that the school leavers become highly productive when they join the industry as they would be doing something that they like and enjoy.

MAIN SECTIONS

===ENGINEERING=== (can you please introduce this part in a bit simpler manner that the Cambridge school leavers will find it user-friendly. Maybe include what is required for one to become an angineer after leaving O-level. )

Engineers apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between scientific discoveries and the commercial applications that meet societal and consumer needs. The branches of Engineering include: Aerospace Engineers
They design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles and supervise the manufacture of these products. Those who work with aircraft are called aeronautical engineers, and those working specifically with spacecraft are astronautical engineers.

Agricultural Engineers
They design agricultural machinery, equipment, sensors, processes, and structures, such as those used for crop storage. Some engineers specialize in areas such as power systems and machinery design; structures and environment engineering; and food and bioprocess engineering. They develop ways to conserve soil and water and to improve the processing of agricultural products.

Biomedical Engineers
They develop devices and procedures that solve medical and health-related problems by combining their knowledge of biology and medicine with engineering principles and practices.

Chemical Engineers
They apply the principles of chemistry to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals and biochemicals.

Civil Engineers
design and supervise the construction of roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and water supply and sewage systems.

Computer hardware Engineers
They research, design, develop, test, and oversee the manufacture and installation of computer hardware. Hardware includes computer chips, circuit boards, computer systems, and related equipment such as keyboards, modems, and printers.

Computer software Engineers
Electrical Engineers
They design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment. Some of this equipment includes electric motors; machinery controls, lighting, and wiring in buildings; automobiles; aircraft; radar and navigation systems; and power generation, control, and transmission devices used by electric utilities.

Electronics Engineers
Envirnmental Engineers
Industrial Engineers
They determine the most effective ways to use the basic factors of production—people, machines, materials, information, and energy—to make a product or provide a service.

Material Engineers
They are involved in the development, processing, and testing of the materials used to create a range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and snow skis. They work with metals, ceramics, plastics, semiconductors, and composites to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements.

Mechanical Engineers
They research, design, develop, manufacture, and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Engineers in this discipline work on power-producing machines such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines. They also work on power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, machine tools, material handling systems, elevators and escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in manufacturing.

Mining and Geological Engineers
They find, extract, and prepare coal, metals, and minerals for use by manufacturing industries and utilities. They design open-pit and underground mines, supervise the construction of mine shafts and tunnels in underground operations, and devise methods for transporting minerals to processing plants.

Nuclear Engineers
They research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. They design, develop, monitor, and operate nuclear plants to generate power. They may work on the nuclear fuel cycle—the production, handling, and use of nuclear fuel and the safe disposal of waste produced by the generation of nuclear energy—or on the development of fusion energy.

Petroleum Engineers
search the world for reservoirs containing oil or natural gas. Once these resources are discovered, petroleum engineers work with geologists and other specialists to understand the geologic formation and properties of the rock containing the reservoir, determine the drilling methods to be used, and monitor drilling and production operations.

MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION

Introduction

Maths and Science Education as a career can be obtained from the Lesotho College of Education. To acquire this, one has to be registered in the faculty of science-department of pure sciences. This career allows one to be a professionally committed and copetent maths and science teachers, who can teach maths and science confidently up to high school level.

Since maths and science teachers are scarce,being one gives you an advantage over other teachers. Furthermore, with maths and science education, one has opportunities of joining other careers other than teaching, eg. engineering.

The Maths and Science Education programme at the Lesotho College of Education has been designed for the following:

• students with prior teaching experience,but without recognised teaching certificate;
• those with teaching certificates but would want to better thier qualification;
  *Cambridge school leavers.
  

Admission

Admission into the Maths and Science Education programme at the college is open to anyone who meets the minimum admission requirements from "all over the world".

Minimum Entry Requirements

College Entry Requirements

• To be admitted into the Lesotho College of Education, candidates should have four (4)credits and a pass in any subjects.
  

Maths and Science Education Entry Requirements

Once admitted in the College, the requirements for entry into the pure sciences are as follows:

• at least a pass in mathematics and any one of the science subjects such as biology, bio-chem, phy-chem and combined science.
  
• teaching experience in mathematics and science
  

Subjects combinations

Having been admitted into the department of pure sciences, all students go through the common first year progamme. Students in this programme are expected to take all the science subjects which include the following:

• Mathematics
  
• Biology
• Chemistry
  
• Physics
  
• and some education courses,
  

Teaching practice

Having successfully completed the common first year, student teachers get plceded at high schools across the country, where they are expected to demonstrate their teaching skills that they learnt in their first year. Normally, the schools are of the students' own choice, and preferably near their home areas.

At the teaching practice schools, student teachers are assigned cooperating teachers, who will monitor their progress and also help them to improve their teaching,as well as in the content matter. Student teachers teach up to Form C level, but in some cases they may teach Form D.

After teaching practice

In the third year of study, student-teachers get back to college to complete their studies. It is in the third year of study that the following are dealt with:

• Strengthning the content of different subjects in the different areas of specialisation.
  
• Reflecting on teaching practice experiences so as to deal with them accordingly.
  
• Getting ready to go out into the field permanantly.
  

In the pure sciences department, students can specials in any two subjects. Possible combinations are as follows:

• Biology - Chemistry
  
• Biology - Mathematics
  
• Physics - Mathematics
  
• Physics - Chemistry
  
• Chemistry - Mathematics
  

At the end of the three years, one obtains a Diploma in Education Secondary in Mathematics and Science

Career advancement

• With a Diploma in Education Secondary in hand, one can advance into a Bachelor's degree in education, majoring in any of the two subjects of specialisation from the college.
  
• One can also change careers and take on other professions such as engineering.
  

Come to Lesotho college of Education and enrol for a "Diploma in Education Secondary", you will never regret that move!!
"SEE YOU THERE"!

Introduction

Office Administration and Management is offered at School of Commerce and Applies Studies. It is a two year Diploma course designed to prepare students to join the secretarial cadere and to follow a managerial position. The aim of the programme is to produce competent secretaries of personal assistants who can efficiently and effectively support middle or senor level managers to cope with their daily tasks.

Admission Requirements

Camridge Overseas School Certificate (COSC) with a pass in five subjects including English Language or English Literature)

Subjects Offered

YEAR ONE

• Office Management*
• Records and Information Management
• Customer Care
• Research Methods
• Computer Literacy
• Computyping(Production and Speed)
• Business English
• Business Calculations
• Basic Accounting

YEAR TWO

• Office Management
• Human Relations
• Principles of Management
• Computer Literacy
• Computyping (Production and Speed)
• Business English
• Accounting

Career Opportunities

Upon completion, the diploma holders will work in nearly all parts of the economy, managing support services in both private companies and government. They are prepared to become senior records managers, administrative officers, personnel officers, human resources assistants, personal assistants, executive officers, data processors, etc.

Students can also further their studies in the areas of administration and all sorts of management such as human resources management, etc.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Introduction to Business Management

Lerotholi Polytechnic offers a two year Diploma in Business Management. The programme is designed to produce competent, skilled and versatile students who could either further their studies, be employed or be entrepreneurs. The programme exposes students to both practical and theoretical aspects of the programme. For students to be awarded a dipolma, students are expected to complete a three month industrial attachment at the end of their second year.

Future Prospects

Students who have successfully completed the course can follow any of the following careers:

• Procurement
• Financial Accounting
• Finanacial Management
• Accounting Management
• Statistics
• Law
• Operations
• Taxation
• Management and
• Entrepreneurship

Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for the course are Cambridge Overseas School Certificate(COSC) or General Certificate of Education (GCE), with a pass in five subjects. Among the five passes, one should have a credit in any one commercial subject and a pass in Mathematics.

COMMERCIAL STUDIES

Introduction

Commercial Subjects play an important role in the school curriculum in that they equip students with life-long skills and techniques necessary for survival in wage and self-employment. Students learn about business environment, business formation, business management and business evaluation. Student-teachers are equiped with necessary skills, approaches and methods that they can employ in teaching the students at secondary and high school levels so as to effectively and efficiently instil the business/entrepreneural culture in them.

Admissions

For one to be admitted into the Commercial Studies department, the following have to be satisfied:

• The general Lesotho College of Education entry requirements
• A minimum of a pass in Principles of Accounts at C.O.S.C. level
• A minimum of a pass in Mathematics at C.O.S.C. level

Subject Combinations and Distribution

The Commercial Studies teachers are expected to teach the following subjects upon their completion of the three year diploma programme:

1. Business Education --- Form A to Form C
2. Commerce --- Form D to Form E
3. Principles of Accounts --- Form D to Form E

First year at the College

The following courses are offered by the Commercial Studies Department:

• Principles of Bookkeeping and Accounts 1 and 2
• Trade and Organisations
• Introduction to Business Management
• Principles of Management
• Mathematics for Commerce 1 and 2
• Curriculum and Teaching methods for Commercial Studies
• Any one semester Elective course

Second year- Teaching Practice

Upon completing and passing the Year one courses, the student teachers are attached to schools throughout the country where they are assigned co-operating teachers who will help them to develop the skills and knowledge acquired at the college practically. The college staff members regularly visit them at their respective teaching practice schools in order to monitor their progress and assist them accordingly.

Third year at the College

After successfully completing the teaching practice exercise, the student teachers are called back to the college for their third and final year of study. Upon their arrival, their teaching practice experiences are reflected and necessary assistance afforded them where problems were encountered so that similar problems do no recur in the future. The following courses are offered:

• Intermediate Accounting
• Advanced Accounting
• Human Resources Management
• Marketing Management
• Cost Accounting
• Statistics and Probability for the Social Sciences
• Management Process
• Computer Applications
• Any one Elective course

Upon successfully completing and passing the above courses, the college ackbowledges the student teacher as a qualified teacher and awards a Diploma in Secondary Education.

Career advancement

The holders of the Diploma from the college can be able to further their studies in Business Education as this Diploma is recognised. One can enroll for a Bachelors Degree majoring in Business Education, and can further enroll for a Master of Business administration majoring in Accounting and/Management, etc.

MARKETING MANAGEMENT

Introduction

In essence, in a layman's language, Marketing Management is all about coordinating the activities of marketers in their quest to forge profitable relationships with their customers in order to retain them. Marketers can retain customers only if they satisfy their needs and wants. They can do this by offering high quality products and services at a profit. Within the marketing management, the focus is on marketing which is a descipline that prepares strategic programs which link the firm and its target markets.

Prospects on completion of program

On completion of this two -year program,the graduate may choose a career in one of the following:

• Advertising

• Brand and Product Management

• Sales and Sales Management and;

• other careers. Within these categories ther are specific positions that can be followed.

Entry requirements

To be eligible acceptance in this program, students should have at least five credits that include English Language. They are also required to have a credit/pass in maths and any commercial subject.