Mode or basic trend? In the Dordogne, as elsewhere, educational guidance has become a market like any other. While previously the Information and Orientation Centers (IOCs) managed by National Education were the only ones working in this area, private sector experts now offer their services (paid) to support students in their choice of courses or profession.
Does this mean that national education no longer fulfills its mission as before? The figures presented by the institution try, on the contrary, to show that…
Mode or basic trend? In the Dordogne, as elsewhere, educational guidance has become a market like any other. While previously the Information and Orientation Centers (IOCs) managed by National Education were the only ones working in this area, private sector experts now offer their services (paid) to support students in their choice of courses or profession.
Does this mean that national education no longer fulfills its mission as before? The figures presented by the institution tend to show, on the contrary, that the department is relatively well supplied with five information and orientation centers (IOCs) operating in Périgueux, Ribérac, Nontron, Sarlat and Bergerac.
“Hand sewn”
Even if there are currently two posts for school psychologists in Périgueux (1) and Sarlat (2) to be filled, “in normal times there are 20 permanent or contract school psychologists available for students in public secondary schools in the Dordogne”, explains Zakia El – Kadi, inspector in charge of information and orientation (IEN IO) in Dordogne.
Compared to the number of secondary (14,500) and secondary (10,000) students being educated in the Dordogne, this means that each guidance counselor theoretically has the equivalent of a large secondary school of 500 students to manage. A significant workload to which is added long and frequent travel to ensure on-call duties at colleges far from the IOC. But a workload that in no way prevents guidance staff from doing “hands-on” work with adolescents, in collaboration with teaching staff.
“We are not librarians who would limit themselves to the distribution of sheets published by the National Office for Information on Education and Professions (Onisep), asserts Sandrine Bastide, director of the IOC in Périgueux. On the contrary, we are here to listen to young people and help them develop an academic or professional project that can match both their aspirations and their educational level.”
“I don’t know if it’s a trend, but in any case there is a real need”
Problem on Parcoursup? Whether preparing a cover letter or correcting a mistake made when entering wishes on the platform, “the teams are also trained to help the student in their actions, all free of charge, including during school holidays”, reminds IEN IO, shooting arrows at private guidance professionals. “I have the impression that we are facing a trend comparable to the one we experienced with the madness of private lessons at Acadomia”, concludes Zakia El-Kadi.
“Young people more lost than before”
“I don’t know if it’s a fad, but in any case there is a real need,” says Agnès Foricher, a professional mobility and educational guidance counselor in Périgueux. In her office on the Boulevard du Petit-Change, this human resources expert sees “young people more lost than before” arriving: “We are asking the teenagers who live in the immediate future to position themselves earlier and earlier,” she notes ‘interestedly. This paradox creates additional stress that they could do without.”
Agnès Foricher offers four work sessions to her young clients.
Émilie Delpeyrat
In order to help them see things more clearly, Agnès Foricher offers her young clients four work sessions lasting an hour and a half for 450 euros, one appointment per appointment with me. “I continue in stages. Before they can make a choice, young people need to know who they are and define what their aspirations are. Once the sector or environment is determined, I invite young people to understand the profession by doing an internship that can be used to support their future choices in Parcoursup,” the career guidance counselor points out. Then comes the moment when it is necessary to define an “academic strategy” that leads to the imagined profession.
“The idea,” she continues, “is to sweep away the various bridges that exist between the various sectors. If young people are not sure they have the level to take an engineering prep course, I will help them find an alternative route through ALI (ex-IUT) or a selective university route.”
Boot camp
In Marsac-sur-l’Isle, Christophe Rouja, head of the Rheplik agency, also offers to guide adolescents through the ups and downs of school guidance with personalized monitoring charged at a minimum price of 900 euros (1,200 euros with a formula including a coaching session).
Christophe Rouja (right) and his team are innovating in terms of educational guidance by organizing bootcamps at the premises of the Rheplik agency, in Marsac-sur-l’Isle.
Émilie Delpeyrat
But recently he decided to innovate by organizing bootcamps dedicated to orientation with professional trainers. Enough to seduce young people soothed by the collective dimension of adventure.