EFFECT OF PARENTAL EXPECTATION AND SCHOOL DISCIPLINE ON CAREER CHOICE AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

This study finds out the effect of parental expectations and school discipline on career choice among senior secondary school students in Kaduna metropolis. A descriptive survey research was used for the study. The population comprised of teachers and SSII students of selected secondary schools in Kaduna metropolis. The research questions that guided the study were: What is the effect of parents’ variables in relation to level of education, occupation and family type on the students’ career choice? What is the effect of subjects studied in schools on secondary school students’ choice of career? What is the effect of students’ aptitude, ability and interest on secondary school students’ choice of career? The mean, standard deviation and frequencies were used to analyze the data based on the research questions. Research results showed the following: There was a significant effect of parents’ variables in relation to level of education, occupation and family type on the students’ career choice. There was a significant effect of subjects studied in schools on secondary school students’ choice of career. There was a significant effect of students’ aptitude, ability and interest on secondary school students’ choice of career. It was recommended among others that school counselors can provide a link between parental influence and young adult career options. Counselors should emphasize the role that both parents play in influencing their children’s career decisions. And that planning for career exploration in the early grades and inviting parent participation are also ways to strengthen the communication between parents and children. And also, that at the middle school and high school level, career fairs can help open the dialog between adolescents and parents regarding their experiences, preferences, and career related advice.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

Choosing a career is often considered a major turning point in a young adult’s life. This decision alone has the potential to open the door for success or close the door of opportunities. Even though career choice is perceived to be an individual’s choice, experts suggest that a variety of influences such as family, school, community, and social and economic factors are likely to manipulate one’s ultimate career decision (Ferry, 2006). Among these factors, students report that parents have the greatest influence on which career they choose (Kniveton, 2014).

Parental influence on career choices of children, both intentionally and inadvertently, can be positive and negative. By the time children move into adolescence, they begin seriously considering their futures, often looking to their parents either as role models or for career advice. A parent’s approach to this can either inspire teenagers to explore a diverse set of potential occupations or to stick to a path they think their parents will approve of. Even before your child begins thinking about college, your attitude toward their elementary and high school classwork can have a big impact on their desire to earn a degree.

In addition to becoming aware of the norms and values they portray, parents also need to know that their children will likely adopt these norms and values as their own. Rutter cited in Otto, 2020) stated that, “Young people tend … to share their parents’ values on the major issues of life … “. Furthermore, Otto (2020) said that ninety-three percent of high school juniors in his study reported holding similar values to their parents. This is significant because it dispels the myth that children and adolescents tend to defy their parents’ values and expectations. Instead, it may be more accurate to say that children are quick to adopt their parent’s norms and values, perhaps without ever exploring their own. This may be due to children’s natural desire to connect with their parents (Poulter, 2016). As a result, they seek acceptance by adopting parental values and living out their career aspirations. Jacobsen (2019) referred to this phenomenon as “hand-me-down dreams,” which is the title of her book about parental

Career plays a very fundamental and significant role in the life of the individual not only because it determines the pattern of income but also because it tends to affect the individual’s personality and concepts in life. Career therefore is a choice pursuit, life work or success in one’s profession occupied by a person throughout his/her lifetime.  In a nutshell, career is the totality of work one does in his life time and is person-centred. It is of utmost importance to every individual as he or she prepares for the future.

Career choice is something very hard to decide, especially as his life will depend on it. Henry (2013) indicated that, career is the totality of experience through which one learns about and prepares to engage in work as part of his way of living. Splete (2011) stresses that 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.

Ipaye (2018) refers to the need for one to discuss with one’s peers, school counsellors, parents and teachers on the need to choose a life span work as “career convention” or “career conference”. However, career convention according to him is an instrument of career information. This occurs for a number of reasons, which includes stimulating career thinking and widen occupational horizon, to focus attention on particular jobs in order to help an individual crystallizes his preference and to create a situation in which parents can, on one hand, meet employers and discuss the opportunities they offer and, on the other hand meet the career teachers or career officers with whom they can exchange views.

James (2014) observes that the influence home has on the child’s learning is the fundamental concepts of life.   This cause and most of the habits and basic adjustment were established during pre-school years. The highlights the fact that home and parents occupy the most important position in the child’s education. It should be stressed that work experience is not an attempt to find job for the students but an attempt to widen the horizons of students and ease the ultimate transition from school to work. This is usually based on the information given to the school by the parents, such guidance and information are necessary because most school children are adolescents and are controlled by double standards, hypocrisy, truancy, materialism, dishonesty etc. The factor that may influence choice of career, according to James (2014) includes socio-economic factors, personal or family factors, cultural factors, which include schools, peer group, age and work experience. 

The effect of parental influence on choice of career is both negative and positive this is due to security factors, no usual hazards to health, assured steady income, certainty of continued employment, career or occupational satisfaction, prestige, and social rewards. Consequently, given the relevance of career choice and school discipline in the future endeavours of the individual and the concerns of parents concerning the wellbeing of their children, this study aimed at examining the effect of parental expectation and school discipline on career choice among senior secondary school students in Kaduna metropolis. This is the thrust of the study.

1.2     Statement of the Problem

Given the natural concerns that parents have for the welfare of their children, such parents do all they can to provide the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the children. This is more so in the area of career choice. Parents have been found to greatly impact the career selection process of their children bearing in mind that such career choice will determine their future success. Many parents are unaware of all the ways they could influence their children’s career decision. Work ethic, family values and gender stereotyping in the family may have greater impact than previously thought.

The concern of parents for their children’s professional choices is widely recognized, regardless of gender or race. Parents are often said to be a child’s first and finest instructors. Research findings corroborate this assumption, demonstrating that parents’ effect on their children’s education starts as early as pre-school. Parental influence extends beyond the parent-child bond to parental qualities, education, and money, as well as parental interactions with their children and their children’s schools (Zhao et al., 2017; Lu, 2012). Parental perspective is critical in many aspects of a child’s life, including academic, professional, and personal. For instance, Hasib et al., (2021) note that parental guidance is critical in a child’s life and has a substantial impact on two important life events namely marriage and career choice.

Motivation to become a medical doctor, for instance has typically been conceived as arising from personal interests. However, it is not uncommon, particularly amongst those from collectivist cultures, for career choice to be motivated by a desire or need to fulfil parent expectations. Whether or not this motivation has longer term effects on the career satisfaction and performance of medical students is unknown

It is clear that parents believe they have less influence over their children’s career decisions than the research supports. This perception seems to differ from the perception of children, who often report their parents to be of the highest influence. Unfortunately, few parents seem to recognize this impact and still believe that they have little to do with the career choices of their children. Besides. while parents assume that their direct career advice may be influential, they may be unaware that they can also exert a strong career influence simply by serving as examples of workers. Furthermore, parents may also be unaware of the impact their norms and values have on their child’s career choice. For instance, Biddle, Bank, and Marlin cited in Simpson, (2013) observed that rather than responding directly to external pressures, students internalize parental norms and preferences and act, therefore, in accordance with those norms.

Coupled with parental concern and expectations of their children, the nature of school discipline could determine the students’ career choice. While some students are inclined to and go for arts subjects, others are inclined to and go for science subjects. These two separate disciplines could shape the students’ preferences regarding career. Given the aforementioned, the effect that parental expectation and school discipline could have on career choice among senior secondary school students in Kaduna metropolis is the problem the study.

1.3     Objectives of the Study

The general objective of the study was to find out the effect of parental expectation and school discipline on career choice among senior secondary school students in Kaduna metropolis.

The specific objectives of the study are to:

1. Find out the effect of parents’ variables in relation to level of education, occupation and family type on the students’ career choice.
2. Find out the effect of subjects studied in schools on secondary school students’ choice of career
3. Find out the effect of students’ aptitude, ability and interest on secondary school students’ choice of career

1.4     Research Questions

The following research questions guided the study:

1. What is the effect of parents’ variables in relation to level of education, occupation and family type on the students’ career choice?
2. What is the effect of subjects studied in schools on secondary school students’ choice of career?
3. What is the effect of students’ aptitude, ability and interest on secondary school students’ choice of career?

1.5     Significance of the Study

The study finds out the effect of parental expectation and school discipline on career choice among senior secondary school students in Kaduna metropolis. This study will facilitate the act of making career choice among many opportunities available, since it is aimed at looking at the problems the secondary school students face in making their choice of career. The result of this study will give an educationist an insight into the problem and also help counselors in guiding students to make a more realistic occupational choice, limiting frustrations and withdrawals.

Most students who are in secondary school do not have enough information about occupational opportunities to help them make rational and appropriate career choice. Hence this research work is sought to help the student understand and explore other options in making career choice. A student tends to learn and accept information more from their teacher. Hence an uninformed teacher will tend to mislead or shy away from counselling the student with respect to career choice. This research seeks to help teachers to explore real career possibility of each student and guide them accordingly putting certain factors into cognizance.

Teachers will guide and counsel student from their own perspective. If there are no laid down guideline by the school system. Hence this research seeks to help curriculum developer to understand the role of career choice to student and to help inculcate it in the curriculum of the school. This will in turn help the student explore the career opportunities available and make rational choice of career.

The findings of this study will further assist the students in making the rightful choice of career and also help those students to lay good foundations for themselves in their field of interest, ability and talent that will invariably develop the child physically, intellectually and emotionally to become useful to him/herself and the society at large. Lastly, the findings of this study will serve as reference material for students of education, the reading public and those who wish to conduct further research in this area.

1.6     Definitions of Terms 

Adolescent: Those between the ages of 12-18years of age. 

Career: This means the choice of occupation.

Occupational Aspiration: This refers to aspiration for a high or low prestige level of job. 

Occupational Choice: This refers to psychological preference or desires the individual has regarding work status. It is the continuing process of occupational selection resulting in the eventual attainment of the occupational status.

Peer Group: This refers to age group of students. It means the association of, or the social relationship between people who fall within the same age range.

Talent: Any natural or special gift, aptitude eminent ability short of genius.   

Tagged with: Adolescent, Career, Career Choice, Occupational Aspiration, Occupational Choice, Parental Expectation, Peer Group, School Discipline, Talent