1. We recommend that provincial/territorial ministries of education, school boards, and schools develop or continue to develop diagnostic tools and support services for helping youth and adults undertake self-assessments and make appropriate decisions regarding their career paths

Diversity is an essential characteristic of our society. Working together is key to our economic development and a rise in our standard of living. Learning together, i.e., learning about and from each other, is an integral part of educating young people to high standards. It means removing the cultural and racial barriers that prevent this learning from taking place.

  1. We recommend that education ministries integrate into the school curriculum an awareness program on the cultural diversity of the Canadian population to enhance respect for and understanding of the cultural differences that make up our society .


Incorporating career education into the curriculum

Career education is a process that combines a student's academic studies with work experience. It is concerned with information about self and the world of work, skill development (decision making, problem-solving, and job search), values, beliefs, attitudes, interests, motivation to acquire new skills, and an opportunity to practice through work experiences.

The school years offer the best opportunity to teach the largest number of students the various transition and career skills needed in career development. These skills are challenging and complex; they are also difficult to teach. Teaching work values, commitment, cooperation, ability to work under supervision, and handling authority is quite different from teaching factual subjects. These issues are person-centered and resources are required to teach them properly.