Education (English)

[2L12] Parental Involvement in Malagasy Students' Career Planning: the Case of Public High Schools in Urban and Suburban Settings

*Fanantenana Rianasoa ANDRIARINIAINA¹ (1. Osaka University)

Keywords:career planning, high school, parental involvement, Madagascar, school to work transition

The objective of this study is to explore the extent of parental involvement in career planning among upper secondary school students in Madagascar. Fieldwork was conducted for four weeks in September 2022 at three schools in the Analamanga Region: School A situated in an urban area, and Schools B and C located in suburban areas. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 144 final-year upper secondary school students and their parents. The survey focused on gathering insights into the students' career aspirations and actions from both the students' and parents' viewpoints. Preliminary findings showed that almost all of the students are planning to continue their education when they finish high school. Male students are more likely to have the same aspiration as their parents. While all students from the urban area desire to pursue higher education, some students from the suburban area believe they would have more chances to succeed in life if they acquire multiple skills in different domains first or work while studying. For students, achieving their goals requires personal effort, support from family and the community. In contrast, parents had different priorities, with a focus on financial support, academic achievement, and exam success. In urban schools, parents emphasized material and financial assistance, direct involvement in their children's education, and support in core subjects. Suburban parents also stressed financial aid but emphasized the significance of sending their children to cram schools. Suburban parents, many of whom were migrants, viewed education as a pathway to upward mobility. However, they also recognized the need to prepare their children for likely premature entry into the job market, emphasizing practical and social skills, and good interpersonal relationships alongside academic achievement. In the context of Madagascar, compared to girls, boys' career seems to be at the center of parents’ preoccupation in urban and suburban settings.