School orientation: how to choose without anxiety
School orientation is the path that helps a student choose the right school based on who they are and what they want to become. Put like that it sounds like a formula. In practice it is the difference between choosing a school knowingly and choosing it because your friends do.
This guide puts together the things that really help students and parents in the last year of middle school, without the jargon. If you are in a hurry, start with the orientation test and come back here afterwards.
What school orientation is
It is a set of activities, inside and outside school, that help you get to know yourself and the options. It is not just a test. It is made of workshops, meetings, open days, interviews. The goal is one: to choose with awareness, not at random.
The real point is this: orientation does not tell you what to do. It gives you the tools to decide it yourself.
How it works in high school
Since 2023 the Ministry has made orientation structured in schools, with two changes worth knowing.
The 30 hours of orientation
Every year, starting from secondary school, 30 hours are dedicated to orientation. They serve to make you reflect on aptitudes, interests and possible paths. They are not an extra subject: they are time to look inside yourself with method.
The orientation tutor
This is a teacher who follows a group of students through the choice and curates the E-Portfolio, where experiences and skills come together. It is the person to ask when your ideas are muddled.
What the family can do
A lot, but in moderation. The most common risk we see is the parent who chooses for the child, perhaps in good faith. It rarely works. What really helps is to listen, accompany them to the open days and ask questions, not give answers.
One concrete thing: take the test together, then compare the results with what you thought. The surprises open up useful conversations.
Frequently asked questions
When does orientation take place?
It intensifies in the last year of middle school, but starts earlier. The 30 hours are spread across the school year.
Are the 30 hours compulsory?
Yes, they are required by the ministry guidelines for schools. For the student they are part of the path, not an optional activity.
Who helps you choose?
The orientation tutor at school, the family at home, and tools like the test to bring your aptitudes into focus.
Where to start
Begin by getting to know yourself: take the orientation test. Then explore the available tracks and read how to choose your high school step by step.