Fatima Muhammad

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — As the summer approaches, high school students find themselves unable to answer the simple question of what field they want to specialize in.



This is not only because they do not know what they want, but also what the job market demands.



According to a field study conducted by Ithraa group, 66 percent of students tend to change their specializations after joining university.



The same study revealed 22 percent of high school graduates tend to go for academic education, yet their interests are vocational.



The study found that 81 percent of university graduates work in fields that do not match their graduate degrees, while 62 percent of new graduates tend to lose their jobs within three months of starting.



Nuha Al-Yousuf, CEO of Ithraa, said based on these numbers they provided solutions that can help high school graduates pick their specializations to meet the national development plan and meet their interests.



A number of specialists, she added, are providing academic and employment advice to high school graduates and job seekers.



Al-Yousuf was speaking at the announcement of the scientific and vocational specializations seminar at the JCCI.



Ziyad Al-Bassam, vice chairman of JCCI, said the chamber is organizing a two-day seminar starting today (Tuesday), featuring 15 speakers from both the public and private sectors. The goal is to indicate how best to choose a practical, scientific and vocational specialization.



“The seminar is an opportunity to bring together the JCCI, private sector and youth as well as the public sector all under one umbrella."



Noura Al-Zahrani, a teacher, stated that students should not be forced to pick majors of their parents’ choice.



She said: “We should get over the traditional thinking that a successful man is the one who majors in medicine and engineering, and a successful woman must be a teacher, doctor or housewife.”



Al-Zahrani advised parents to let their children pick their specialization. “By doing this we can save more time and money and on top of that ensure that our kids are doing what they want.”



Faiz Marri, a father of a high school student, said he told his son to pick an administrative job.



He said: “This is what the market needs; what is the point of spending money on a specialization and not working?



“I told my son to do any degree in administration and if he does not get a job he can at least get a loan and run his own small business.”



Fatin Eisa, a high school student, said: “I still don’t know what major I’ll pick.



“Our school takes us to different universities to help us pick our majors.



“My mother wants me to go for teaching because I will get married soon and later will not be able to have more time for work.



“But I think I will pick up interior design; I’m still not sure about what I want.”



Asked if she is taking into consideration the job market’s needs, she said: “Not really, I want to study what I like, not what others want me to do.”



Khaled Mahdi, who is in his second year at university, said: “I was moved to specialize in history because of my GPA.



“I am not excited and will just give my certificate to my mother after I graduate so she can place it on one of our walls at home, because I know it’s not going to get me a job.”