According to the LGS preference calendar shared by the Ministry of National Education, the preference period, which started on July 3, will end on July 19. Education Expert Ertuğrul Tut states that when it comes to LGS preferences, students tend to make choices based on their friends, and emphasizes that families should neither take complete control nor leave the process entirely to the candidate. Tut states that students should be explained that completing secondary education with the right field choice in a good high school is the most important step taken towards professional life, and underlines that a triangle of parents, guidance counselors, and prospective students must absolutely be established.
According to the LGS preference calendar shared by the Ministry of National Education, the preference period, which started on July 3, will end on July 19. Ertuğrul Tut, Education Expert and Manager of Educational Institutions and Guidance Services at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, made evaluations on how families can correctly guide candidates and contribute to the preference process when making high school choices.
Students Tend to Choose the School Where Their Friends Are…
Education Expert Ertuğrul Tut states that when it comes to LGS preferences, students generally tend to make choices based on their friends rather than academic success, saying, “Their desire to choose the school their friends want to go to is dominant. There is also a segment outside this group. These candidates generally leave themselves to their families' preferences. In both cases, unhappiness or alienation from school can occur. When making high school choices, it is very important for the candidate to visit the high school with their family to get one-on-one information and to breathe the atmosphere they will experience in the school.”
Families Should Be Prudently Involved in the Process
Tut points out that families should neither take complete control nor leave the process entirely to the candidate, saying, “It is very important for the mother, father, and candidate to visit the schools to be included in the preference list together and ask the questions on their minds to get answers. If necessary, pros and cons should be noted for the candidate, and actions should be taken after asking the candidate for their thoughts. It should not be forgotten that it is the prospective student, not the parents, who will continue their high school education in that school.” he advised.
Students Emotionally Influenced by Their Friends Can Make Wrong Decisions
Tut states that the most important issue when making high school choices is field selection, saying, “Students often make the mistake of choosing academically unsuccessful fields just because of the classroom environment. Emotional influence from friends at these ages can lead students to make wrong decisions. Therefore, parents who are good followers and observers can be more successful in guiding their children. At the end of this process, career choice becomes healthier.”
The Parent, Guidance Counselor, and Student Triangle Must Absolutely Be Established
Tut added that creating a vision for students who are about to start high school is one of the most difficult tasks, saying, “Career choice may not mean much for this age group. Guiding them by appreciating their vocational aptitudes can make things a little easier. Explaining that completing secondary education with the right field choice in a good high school is the most important step towards professional life can be convincing. The triangle of parents, guidance counselors, and prospective students must absolutely be established. Following this first step, it is important to explain which professional groups exist in the chosen field, considering the student's aptitude. Finally, arranging for the candidate to meet with experts from professional groups of interest is extremely important for gaining vision and taking steps towards career planning.” he said.
Actions Should Be Taken By Sharing the Child's Anxiety
Education Expert Ertuğrul Tut emphasized the importance of first explaining to children who cannot get into any Anatolian high school or private high school due to their scores and percentile that everything in life can be compensated for, saying, “During this process, the child should be encouraged to account for where mistakes were made. However, a blaming or judgmental attitude should not be adopted while doing this. Actions should be taken by sharing the child's anxiety. In other words, the message that they are on the same side should be conveyed to the child when evaluating the process. The mother, father, and child should each write down notes about the mistakes and shortcomings, and everyone should read each other's notes. This process also allows parents to question themselves. After a situation analysis, the most reasonable high school should be chosen by following the process we mentioned, and the student should regain their lost vision and self-confidence.” he concluded.