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Determinants of adolescents’ career development competencies in junior secondary schools of South Korea

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Abstract

More attention is needed on the career development of adolescents, specifically disadvantaged students deemed at risk of school failure. We investigated the determinants on career development competencies of 9th graders in secondary school in South Korea. The data in this study included 394 principals, 6635 students, and the students’ parents. Our research confirmed that students with low academic achievement, less parental support, and low family income are relatively disadvantaged in their school-based career development. We suggest that schools provide more preferential attention and care, as well as special career interventions for these disadvantaged students.

Résumé

Les déterminants des compétences de développement de carrière d’adolescents en école secondaire de Corée du Sud. D’avantage d’attention doit être portée sur le développement de carrière des adolescents, en particulier ceux qui viennent de milieux défavorisés et qui risquent la rupture scolaire. Nous avons recherché les facteurs déterminants des compétences en développement de carrière chez des élèves de 9ème année en Corée du Sud. Cette étude comprenait 394 directeurs, ainsi que 6635 étudiants et leurs parents. Notre recherche a confirmé que les étudiants avec une faible réussite académique, peu de support parental, et un revenu salarial familial bas sont relativement désavantagés dans leur développement de carrière scolaire. Nous suggérons une mise à disposition de services préférentiels et d’interventions de carrière par les écoles pour ces étudiants désavantagés.

Zusammenfassung

Wesentliche Faktoren für die Entwicklung der Berufswahlkompetenz von Jugendlichen auf Sekundarstufe in Südkorea. Der beruflichen Entwicklung von Jugendlichen soll mehr Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt werden, insbesondere bei benachteiligten Schülern/innen, die von Schulversagen bedroht sind. In der Studie wurden wesentliche Faktoren für die Entwicklung der Berufswahlkompetenz bei Schülern/innen der 9. Klasse (auf Sekundarstufe) in Südkorea untersucht. Die Daten dieser Studie beinhalten 394 Schulleiter/innen, 6635 Schüler/innen sowie den Eltern. Unsere Untersuchung bestätigt, dass Schüler/innen mit schwachen schulischen Leistungen, wenig elterlicher Unterstützung und aus Familien mit niedrigem Einkommen in ihrer beruflichen Entwicklung benachteiligt sind. Wir empfehlen deshalb, dass Schulen den betroffenen Schülern/innen mehr Aufmerksamkeit und Betreuung sowie spezielle Massnahmen zur beruflichen Entwicklung anbieten.

Resumen

Determinantes de las Competencias del Desarrollo de la Carrera en los Adolescentes de las Escuelas Secundarias de Corea del Sur. Es necesario prestar más atención al desarrollo de la carrera de los adolescentes, especialmente en los estudiantes desfavorecidos considerados en riesgo de fracaso escolar. Hemos investigado los determinantes en las competencias de desarrollo de carrera de los alumnos de 9 º grado de educación secundaria en Corea del Sur. Los datos de este estudio incluyeron 394 directores, 6635 estudiantes y los padres de los estudiantes. Nuestra investigación confirmó que los estudiantes con bajo rendimiento académico, menos apoyo de los padres y bajos ingresos familiares se encuentran en relativa desventaja en su desarrollo de carrera en la escuela. Sugerimos que las escuelas proporcionen atención y cuidado preferencial, así como intervenciones especiales de carrera para estos estudiantes de entornos desfavorecidos.

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Notes

  1. Junior secondary schools are included in the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) level 2 (UNESCO, 2012). Regarding educational systems, the schools of South Korea follow a single education track of 6-3-3-4. Junior secondary school, which includes grades 7–9, is often called middle school or lower secondary school.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korean Government (NRF-2014S1A3A2044609).

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  1. Department of Education, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea

    Joo-Ho Park

  2. Program of Workforce Education, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Jay W. Rojewski & In Heok Lee

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Park, JH., Rojewski, J.W. & Lee, I.H. Determinants of adolescents’ career development competencies in junior secondary schools of South Korea. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 18, 1–25 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-017-9342-5

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