Recently, the Education department had organised a career fest where private companies had put up stalls to guide students on different career options.

After the fest, Director Public Instruction (Schools), S K Setia announced that companies would now be able to visit government schools and counsel students.

Parents say these counselling sessions have confused children and diverted their attention from academics.

From companies providing information on animation to coaching centres, all are welcome in government schools.

“Every day, my daughter comes home armed with information about with a new career option and wants me to get her admitted to various institutes. She has started arguing that if the school is giving career options, they have to be good and should be followed,” says Surinder Kumar, whose daughter studies in Class XI in GMSSS, Sector 18.

Aditi, another parent, says, “It is very confusing for the students as they get fascinated too quickly and are lured by different options. Schools don’t realise what a headache it is for parents”.

Schools, too, are not comfortable with the DPI (S)’s announcement.

“It’s not only people from the different institutes who bother us... even parents have started coming up to us to ask whether a particular option is good for their children. Also many come up with complaints that their children have started arguing with them,” says the principal of a government school.

Meanwhile, DPI (S) Setia says it is a step towards introducing students to better career options.