IT’S PAGEANTRY, NOT EDUCATION”: WHY I BELIEVE CAREER DAY COSTUMES IN BASIC SCHOOLS ARE UNNECESSARY

 “IT’S PAGEANTRY, NOT EDUCATION”: WHY I BELIEVE CAREER DAY COSTUMES IN BASIC SCHOOLS ARE UNNECESSARY

By : Honeybrowne Okaakyire 

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, I have watched with growing concern how certain school activities that were originally designed to educate and inspire children have gradually turned into something completely different. One of those activities is Career Day in basic schools. What was once meant to introduce children to different professions and help them dream about their future has slowly transformed into what I would describe as a costly costume parade.

Recently, a Ghanaian mother voiced this exact concern in a video that quickly circulated online. When I listened to her speak, I realized she had simply said out loud what thousands of parents have been quietly complaining about for years. The reactions on social media showed that the issue touched a nerve.

As a teacher and someone who interacts with pupils regularly, I feel strongly about this matter. I believe we need to have an honest conversation about the real purpose of Career Day, especially for pupils in the lower classes. I also believe it is time we rethink the practice of forcing parents to buy expensive professional costumes for children who barely understand what those professions truly involve.

In this article, I want to share my personal thoughts about why I believe Career Day costumes are unnecessary for younger pupils, why the practice places unnecessary pressure on parents, and what I believe schools should do instead.

THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF CAREER DAY

CAREER DAY WAS MEANT TO INSPIRE

When I first heard about Career Day activities in schools years ago, the idea sounded beautiful. The aim was simple: expose children to different professions so they could begin imagining what they might want to become in the future.

I believe that the original intention was noble. Children would learn about careers such as:

Teachers 

Doctors

Accountants

Farmers

Engineers

Police officers

Journalists

The goal was never about costumes. The goal was about exposure and inspiration.

Schools were supposed to help pupils understand that the world is full of different opportunities and that with hard work and education, they could become anything they wished.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the focus shifted.

HOW CAREER DAY HAS BECOME A COSTUME PARADE

FROM EDUCATION TO PAGEANTRY

Today, when I see Career Day celebrations in many basic schools, I sometimes struggle to recognize the educational value behind them.

Instead of learning about careers, the entire event has become centered around who has the best costume.

Children now appear in outfits such as:

Doctor's coats

Police uniforms

Lawyer’s wigs

Pilot uniforms

Construction helmets

At first glance, it may look exciting. The photographs look beautiful. Parents take pictures, schools post them online, and everyone applauds the creativity.

But when I look deeper, I begin to ask an uncomfortable question:

What exactly are the children learning?

If I am being honest, in many cases the answer is very little.

THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON PARENTS

THE COST OF ONE-DAY COSTUMES

One of the biggest problems I see with Career Day costumes is the financial pressure placed on parents.

Many schools require pupils to come dressed as their dream profession. That sounds harmless until one considers the cost involved.

To dress as certain professionals, parents may have to purchase or rent:

Lab coats

Toy stethoscopes

Police uniforms

Pilot costumes

Construction outfits

Some of these costumes can cost a surprising amount of money. And the most frustrating part is that the child may wear the outfit only once for a few hours.

After the event, the costume is usually kept in a cupboard and never used again.

As a teacher and a Ghanaian who understands the economic realities many families face, I find this troubling. Many parents are already struggling with school fees, books, uniforms, and feeding costs. Adding extra costume expenses for a short ceremony does not make sense to me.

CHILDREN IN LOWER CLASSES DO NOT UNDERSTAND PROFESSIONS

THE REALITY OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Another reason I believe Career Day costumes are unnecessary for younger pupils is simple: most of them do not yet understand professions.

Children in kindergarten and lower primary are still discovering the world. Their interests change quickly.

I have personally seen situations where:

A child wants to be a doctor today

The same child wants to be a footballer tomorrow

Next week, the child says he/she wants to be a pilot

This is normal childhood behavior. It is part of learning and imagination.

So when schools force parents to buy costumes representing a “dream career,” I cannot help but ask:

Is the child truly choosing the profession, or is the costume simply chosen for them?

In many cases, the profession is decided by parents or teachers, not the child.

THE PRESSURE AND EMBARRASSMENT SOME CHILDREN FACE

NOT EVERY PARENT CAN AFFORD A COSTUME

Another painful aspect of Career Day that I have observed is the silent embarrassment some children experience.

In some classrooms, you may find:

One child wearing a beautifully tailored pilot uniform

Another child wearing a complete doctor’s outfit

A third child arriving in a simple school uniform because the parents could not afford a costume

Even if teachers try to treat every child equally, the difference becomes obvious.

I have always believed school activities should bring children together, not create visible economic differences between them.

Unfortunately, expensive costume-based activities sometimes do exactly that.

EDUCATION SHOULD FOCUS ON LEARNING, NOT APPEARANCE

KNOWLEDGE MATTERS MORE THAN COSTUMES

When I reflect on education, I remind myself that the true purpose of school is learning and character development.

A child does not become inspired to be a doctor simply because they wore a lab coat for two hours.

Real inspiration comes from:

Understanding what the profession does

Knowing the challenges involved

Hearing real-life experiences

Without this deeper understanding, the costume becomes nothing more than a photo opportunity.

WHAT I BELIEVE SCHOOLS SHOULD DO INSTEAD

INVITE REAL PROFESSIONALS

One suggestion that I strongly support, and which the concerned parent also mentioned, is inviting real professionals to speak to pupils.

Imagine the impact if schools invited:

A real nurse to talk about caring for patients

A farmer to explain food production

A police officer to discuss community safety

A teacher to explain the joy of educating others

When children hear directly from people who practice these careers, the learning becomes real and meaningful.

They can ask questions like:

What do you do every day?

What subjects should I study?

What challenges do you face?

This type of interaction teaches far more than any costume ever could.

CAREER EDUCATION SHOULD BE AGE-APPROPRIATE

LOWER PRIMARY VS UPPER PRIMARY

I believe Career Day activities should be designed according to the age and understanding of the pupils.

For younger pupils, the focus should simply be on introducing them to the idea that people do different types of work.

For older pupils, especially in upper primary or junior high school, deeper discussions about careers can take place.

At that stage, students begin to understand:

Skills required

Educational paths

Personal interests

But expecting a six-year-old child to choose a profession and dress for it does not make much sense to me.

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE

THE PRESSURE TO IMPRESS ONLINE

Another factor I believe has contributed to the rise of extravagant Career Day costumes is social media.

Schools now love to post pictures of their events online. Parents also enjoy sharing pictures of their children dressed as professionals.

While there is nothing wrong with celebrating children, I sometimes feel that the event has become more about creating attractive photos than meaningful learning.

In some cases, parents even compete with each other over who can provide the most impressive costume.

This kind of competition distracts from the real purpose of education.

CAREER GUIDANCE SHOULD BE A CONTINUOUS PROCESS

NOT JUST A ONE-DAY EVENT

Another issue I have with many Career Day celebrations is that they are treated as a one-day activity.

True career guidance should be ongoing. Schools should continuously help pupils discover:

Their talents

Their interests

Their strengths

This can be done through classroom discussions, practical activities, and mentorship.

A single day of costumes cannot achieve that goal.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER

As someone who works closely with pupils, I have observed how children truly learn.

I have noticed that children remember stories and experiences much more than costumes.

When I tell them about a real person who worked hard to achieve their dreams, they listen with excitement.

But when they simply wear an outfit without understanding the profession, the experience quickly fades from their memory.

That is why I strongly believe schools must focus more on learning experiences rather than appearances.

EDUCATION SHOULD NOT PUT PRESSURE ON FAMILIES

BE SENSITIVE TO PARENTS’ FINANCIAL REALITIES

One of the most important responsibilities schools have is understanding the financial realities of families.

In Ghana, many parents work extremely hard just to keep their children in school.

When schools introduce activities that require extra spending, they should ask themselves a simple question:

Is this truly necessary for the child’s education?

If the answer is no, then the activity should be reconsidered.

A BETTER WAY FORWARD

SIMPLE, EDUCATIONAL CAREER DAYS

Career Day can still be a wonderful activity if it is organized in a way that focuses on learning.

Instead of expensive costumes, schools could:

Organize career talks

Arrange short demonstrations

Show educational videos

Allow pupils to ask professionals questions

These activities would be far more beneficial to pupils than simply wearing costumes.

FINAL THOUGHTS

After reflecting deeply on this issue, I believe the Ghanaian mother who spoke out raised a very important point.

Career Day in many basic schools has drifted away from its educational purpose and become an unnecessary financial burden on parents.

I personally believe that younger pupils do not need professional costumes to learn about careers. What they need is exposure, guidance, and meaningful interaction with people who practice those careers.

Education should never become a competition of appearances.

Instead, it should remain focused on what truly matters: learning, curiosity, and inspiration.

If schools can return to the original purpose of Career Day, we will not only ease the burden on parents but also create experiences that genuinely inspire our children to dream about their future.

And for me, that is what education should always be about.