- completing a school record with information supplied by teachers, including
psychological observations on school aptitudes, personality traits, interests,
family information; - results of the medical examination were written down in a record and could
serve notice of objections to the choice of certain professions.
This type of examination required much work on behalf of the counsellor and was later
replaced with a short interview, guidance information and education sessions.
Competence screening appeared in the context of the economic crisis, which caused
reduction in the job availability and an increased unemployment, professional mobility,
and voluntary requests of professional (re)orientation.
At the end of the 1970s, the reports drawn up at the request of public authorities
underlined the need for additional training for young graduates and unemployed adults
confronted with social and professional challenges. The training had to be associated with
vocational guidance. In the context, the screening practice appeared and developed
rapidly, in the early 1980s (Lietard, 1991, apud Guichard, Huteau, 2001). In the
beginning, the term was personal and professional screening. At the same time, it was
promoted idea of the right to counselling and guidance of each employee.
In the evolution of the competence screening practice in France, the following stages can
be distinguished:
- 1986: the creation of Inter-Institutional Competence Screening Centres, in
support of beneficiaries’ access to training and jobs; - 1989-1990: the law on individualized training credit for young people
between 16 and 25 years, further extended to employees; - 1991: the law on lifelong training that gives every person the right to a
competence screening.
Competence screening is used in countries such as Italy and the Czech Republic.
Theoretical background
Guichard and Huteau (2001) analyse the points of view of theoreticians and practitioners
on the aims and methods employed for re-orientation. We present a synthesis in the
following table: