Impact of Parents Educational Background Secondary School Students Career Choice
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to examine the impact of parents educational background secondary school students career choice. Specific objectives of the study are:
- To ascertain the degree in which socio-economic status of parents influence the career choice of students in secondary school.
- To examine the relationship between the level of education of parents and the career choice of students in secondary schools
- To determine if the size of a family have any influence on the choice of career of secondary school students.
- To examine the relationship between living condition at family and choice of career of students.
- To find out if the ability and temperament of parents affect the choice of career of students.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Career choice has become a complex science with the advent of information technology, the emergency of post industrial revolution and job competition. And as such, education is universally recognised to be the answer to socio-economic problems of the world. Nation and individuals look up to education to provide a clue or possibly, a cure for poverty, ignorance, jobless, hunger, bad governance, poor communication system and inadequate shelter among other things. Every nation of the world aspires towards quality of life and social status. Most student who are in secondary schools do not have adequate information about occupational opportunities to help them make appropriate career choice. This has led to so many swing of career path after graduation from the university. Hence, this has highlighted career selection as one of many important choice students make in determining future plans; these decision will impart them throughout their lives. Hence it is important to figure out the factors or determinant of career choice among secondary school student; so as to see if it can help to guide student to make the right and rational career choice. Thus, with the advent of information technology, the emergence of post industrial revolutions and job competition, the choice of career has become a complex science (Okafor, 2012). These have given rise n interest to scholars on the factors influencing career choice not just among student alone, but among adults. The essence of who the student is, will revolve around what the students want to do with their lifelong work. No matter ones age, the choice of career or desire is an important question for everybody. A lot of students in secondary schools believe that their future is a glorious adventure in which they are bound to succeed (salami & salami, 2013). Many of them have the idea that they would be able to work in the public or private establishments as soon as they complete their secondary education. Student in secondary schools like many other young adult are always worried about what they will do with their lives, the kind of adult are always worried about what they will do with their lives, the kind of adult they will become. They are concerned about early entry into the occupational world and finding productive and rewarding place in and out rapidly, fast changing societies where employment is unlikely to be available on a scale sufficient to absorb more than a small fraction of the young people when they do arrive at the labour market. How the young people of today meet the problem for tomorrow ill depend upon the amount of success they make in planning for that tomorrow.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which 100 were returned. The analysis of this study is based on the number returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Conclusions
In conclusion, this study has not only shown that parents educational background influences teenagers career choice, it has also revealed that teenagers whose parents are from high educational background are more consistent and do not have much difficulties in making career choice when compared with those whose parents have low educational background. Since this study has clearly shown that parents’ educational background to a great extent influences career decision of teenagers, what needs to be established now is the implication of this influence on the future of the teenagers and the society. Therefore, this study recommends that further studies should be conducted to establish the implication of parents influence on teenager’s future career choices and the society at large.
Recommendations of the Study
- The government of Nigeria has put in resources to enhance academic advancement of the children in Nigeria. The government has further trained counselors in primary schools who take up the role of career guidance. The results of this study have shown that teacher’s advice has the least influence on career choice. This study therefore recommends that the ministry of education should change its strategy from information and education only to information, education and exposure. Interaction of children with people pursuing diverse careers will influence them positively.
- Nongovernmental organizations that fund youth programs spend a good amount of their resources in academic advancement of the sponsored students. Results of this study have shown that 21.1 % of the respondents would change their course of study given the chance. 78.9% stated they would retain their current career line. The evidence of dissatisfaction in careers being pursued by students as brought out by the findings of the study calls for a more comprehensive approach to career guidance by all stakeholders which include parents, teachers and role models. This level of dissatisfaction need not be ignored. There is need to factor in gifts, talents and passion profiling of children from an early age.
- Compassion International spends a reasonable amount of resources on cognitive development of the sponsored students. The results of this study shows have shown that 29% of the students selected teaching as their most preferred career with only 3.5% selecting medicine related careers and 4.6% in engineering. From the results of the study, none of the female respondents studies engineering. This study recommends a more comprehensive approach to career guidance and an exposure to technical careers among the sponsored students. This should however start in the early years of the sponsorship programs.
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