Status of vocational guidance in Encarnacion and its adaptation to the local context.

Abstract

This proposal is an advance of a research project co-funded by the National Council of Science and Technology of Paraguay (CONACYT) on vocational guidance and training demand. It examines the situation at the secondary level in Encarnación and its adaptation to the local context. This need arises from the high dropout rate of students, the lack of access to higher education, and the low levels of academic achievement. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze the current situation and training demand among secondary school students in the city of Encarnación. Consequently, a literature review was conducted on university dropout rates, training demand, and educational quality related to the teacher learning process, using the content analysis method to identify thematic categories. The results of the study show that some university programs experience a drop in enrollment of up to 50% between the first and second years of study. This is consistent with several authors who argue that the lack of adequate career guidance influences early student dropouts at the university level. Furthermore, high school students are hesitant to choose the training program that will allow them to continue their academic studies. Furthermore, they express a need for educational profiles that are currently lacking in the educational offerings, which can lead to employment in occupations that are not aligned with their skills, generating dissatisfaction with their expectations, interests, and needs.