Islamabad Introduces Career Counselling Program for School and College Students

The Federal Directorate of Education Islamabad, operating under the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, has launched a full-time and regular Career Counselling Program for students enrolled in FDE schools and colleges. This initiative marks a significant step toward structured career guidance within the public education system of the federal capital.

The program has been designed as a two-year initiative and will cater to students from elementary classes up to the BS level. Its primary objective is to help students make informed academic and career-related decisions at different stages of their education. To achieve this, the FDE has partnered with a consortium of relevant professional firms that will provide expert counselling services and standardized guidance across institutions.

Federal Secretary for Education Nadeem Mahbub recently visited an ongoing counselling session at Islamabad Model College for Girls F-6/2 to review the implementation of the program. Senior officials of the Federal Directorate of Education, including Director General Syed Junaid Akhlaq and Director Academics Riffat Jabeen, were also present during the visit and briefed the secretary on the progress and scope of the initiative.

Under the Career Counselling Program, students will undergo psychometric and aptitude assessments to better understand their skills, interests, and strengths. Based on these assessments, students will receive individualized career guidance to help them choose suitable academic streams and professional pathways. The program also provides detailed information on higher education opportunities, university admission requirements, entry tests, scholarships, technical and vocational education options, and emerging career fields linked to industry demand.

In addition to student-focused counselling, the initiative includes parent awareness sessions to ensure families are involved in and supportive of their children’s career planning. These sessions aim to address common misconceptions about career choices and promote informed decision-making at the household level.

A key feature of the program is the development of standardized counselling content and a data-driven digital dashboard. This system will collect and analyze student data to support evidence-based planning and allow the FDE to integrate career counselling services more effectively across all its schools and colleges. The dashboard is expected to help education managers track trends, identify gaps, and continuously improve the counselling framework.

Officials said the launch of this program reflects the Federal Directorate of Education’s commitment to preparing students for a wide range of academic, technical, and professional careers. By introducing structured and continuous career counselling, the FDE aims to equip students with the clarity, confidence, and guidance needed to navigate education pathways and enter the workforce with informed choices.