Factors Influencing Students Achievement In Their Choice Of Career In Senior Secondary School

Project and Seminar Material for Education

Abstract

This study is aimed at identifying the factors affecting career choice among senior secondary schools students in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The instrument used for collection of data or information in this research is mainly the questionnaires. The questionnaires were distributed to four selected secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. To test the validity of the stated research questions from their respondents it was discovered that many of the option career choice education should be introduced in senior secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area. Some findings were also made in this research, which will be of great benefit to the students in the need to establish guidance and counselling facilities centres in senior secondary schools.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Career choice has become a complex science with the advent of information technology, the emergence of post industrial revolution and job competition. It was a common practice in the old days to find feudalism converting it into a family affair where the son of a blacksmith was destined to become a blacksmith and a feudal was born a leader. Industrialization and post industrialization has made it possible for a common person to be richer as long as she or he has due skills and knowledge (Wattles, 2009). Today, one has not only to make due career planning but also exhaustive career research before making a career choice so as to adjust with the evolving socio-economic conditions (Wattles, 2009). Most of students who are secondary schools do not have accurate information about occupational opportunities to help them make appropriate career choice. According to Kerka (2000), career choice is influenced by multiple factors including personality, interests, self concept, cultural identity, globalization, socialization, role model, social support and available resources such as information and financial. Bandura et al (2001) state that each individual undertaking the process is influenced by several factors including the context in which they live in, their personal aptitudes, social contacts and educational attainment. According to Hewitt (2010), factors influencing career choice can either be intrinsic or extrinsic or both. Hewitt further states that most people are influenced by careers that their parents favour, others follow the careers that their educational choices have opened for them, some choose to follow their passion regardless of how much or little it will make them while others choose the careers that give high income. Students perception of being suitable for particular jobs also has been found to be influenced by a number of factors including ethnic background, year in school, level of achievement, choice of science subjects, attitudes and differences in job characteristics (McQuaid and Bond, 2003).Career plays a very fundamental and significant role in the life of the individual not only because they determine the pattern of income but also because they affect the individual personality and concepts in life. Career therefore is a choose pursuit, life work or success in one’s profession, it is the sequence of major position occupied by a person throughout his lifetime. In a nutshell, career is the totality of work one does in his life time and are person concerned. It is therefore a positive thing for one to think as far as possible as it is enduring. Career choice is something very hard to enter especially as ones life will depend on it.

Her (1973) thus indicate that career is the totality of experience through which one learn about and prepare to engage in work as part of his way of living. PietropesaandSplete(1975) Stress career is an enjoying process that occurs over the life span and includes homes, schools and community. Every human being needs to do one job or the other to help contribute his quote to the development of the country.

In a study by Perrone et al., (2001) on role model influence on the career decisiveness of college students, it was found that role model supportiveness, and quality of relationship contributed to the career choice of students. The same study indicated that majority of the students selected same gender role models. Research on the role of spirituality and religion in career development although limited in scope has suggested that such factors relate positively to desirable career development outcomes such as career decisions. For many people with spiritual or religious commitment faith plays a critical role in the career decision making process. (Duffy and Dick 2009). A Study on career choice in Ethiopia by Stebleton (2007) indicated that the students had an external locus of control and believes that there are numerous external factors which influence their career choices. These external factors include; political and economic considerations, previous work experience and the influence of key individuals in a person’s life.

1.2 Statement of Problem

In the course of choice of courses to read in the senior secondary schools and universities, a lot of influencing actions or decisions. These general determinates of their choices at this crucial. Parents influences, peer group, intellectual ability, financial background, goal of life, etc come into play with varying degrees of weight on them. T hereare many problems which directly or indirectly influence the senior secondary school. Where they have been studying all the school subjects together with out any differentiation between care subject and optional subjects or between science and arts subjects, they are faced with choosing areas of specialization whether science or Arts. This is the beginning of their career choice problems. It becomes obvious that arts students can never again think of pursuing science, engineering courses or medicine in the universities, neither will science students think of pursuing courses in arts leading to bachelor of arts degree ni the universities. Thing start to all apart from there.

1.3 Purpose of Study

The main purpose of this study is the attempt to find out the factors affecting the choice of career among students in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. It will also examine to what extent the factors affecting the choice of career will aid the students positively or at times negatively.

1.4 Research Question

What are the possible causes of factors affecting the choice of career among secondary school students in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State?
To what extent has private sector actually affect the choice of career among secondary school students.
What is actually the contribution of both private and public secondary school on the choice of career of secondary school students?

1.5 Significance of Study

The importance of this researcher work is to find to what extent the influences of the parent will affect the student choice of career and the attendance performance of students on the subject that would heard them successfully toward this occupation or job as a life span endeavour.

It will enable the research give recommendations to the parents about their children’s response to the advice five to them.
It will enable the researcher make concrete recommendations to the government about the choice of career among students especially now that the rate of unemployment is high.
It will enable the researcher to make recommendation to school administrators.
The findings will also enable the researcher made recommendations for further research on the issue of career prospects.

1.6 Scope / Delimitation of Study

This research study is limited to the students in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. This research work cover four randomly selected secondary school in Oredo local government area of Edo State. Four of which are public and one is private.

Army day secondary school, Ikpoba Hill barracks
Immaculate Conception College
Idogbo Grammar School Idogbo
Queen Ede Secondary School, Ikpoba Hill
Henson demonstration Group of School, Iwogban Quarters.

1.7 Limitation of the Study

The research study took time involving movement from one place to another together information; it was time consuming and boring straining of metal capacity sleeplessness etc. the financial embodiment is enormous in terms of transportation materials, etc seeking of information from one institution to another was a huge task.
The research work actually impeded my homework in an attempt to give more consideration to school work.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Career:

A chosen pursuit or course of business activity or enterprise, especially one’s professional life or employment that offers advancement and honour.

Affect:

To produce a change in somebody or something.

Influence:

The power that somebody or something has a mark somebody or something behind a particular way of the influence a parents on choice of career of their children.

Prospect:

The chances of being successful good job/employment/career prospect.

School:

The school is a place where children need to be educated. The process of learning in a school; the time during your life when you go to school.

Examination:

A formal written spoken or practical test, especially at school or colleges to see how much you know about a subject or what you can do to take an exam (forma) to sit for an exam to pass so fat an exam.

Chapter Five

Summary, Recommendation and Conclusion

5.1 Summary

This study concerns the factors affecting career choice among senior secondary schools students in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The researcher draws up conclusion based on the findings, recommends possible solutions to the findings and gives some suggestions that will help future study. From the above, it is believed that there are many factors affecting career students in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. This is not supposed to be so because studying of career choice should begin from junior secondary schools that is (JSS III) to enable the students have basic foundation and be able to overcome problems of career choice in senior secondary school.
Another point is that students should be encouraged to study subject that will lead them to their area of will lead them to their area of specialization. Moreover, it is very vital to established guidance and counselling facilities in school as this will enable both parents and children with the help of a school counsellor to understand themselves betters, some parents find it difficult to understand their children career problems or feelings. A school counsellor will enable them to overcome their career problem.

5.2 Conclusion

In the study, the researcher has attempted career choice among senior secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. Studying of factors affecting career choice among senior secondary schools is of a great benefit to the students in order to enable them understand and solve their career problems.

5.3 Recommendation

Having highlighted the factors affecting career choice among secondary school students the researcher has made the following recommendations:

In the academic performance of a child, his best subjects should be encouraged his parents and his class teacher in order to achieve a desired goal.
On no account should a parent compel a child to a professional course while the child is not good at.
Students should be encouraged to study science subjects.
Government should encourage all senior secondary schools to have guidance and counselling facilities centres. This is in terms of having assessed to expect advise as well as good counselling service.

5.4 Suggestion for Further Studies

As a result of the various limitations associated with the study, the researcher suggests that further studies be carried out in other local government area. In other to ascertain the opinions of their people on the factors affecting choice of career among senior secondary school students.

Project Material Download