Tag Archives: Career Choice

PARENTAL EXPECTATION AND SCHOOL DISCIPLINE

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.   

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Determinants of Career Choice among Secondary School Students in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State

Determinants of Career Choice among Secondary School Students in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State

ABSTRACT

Career selection is one of many important choices students will make in determining future plans; this decision will impact them throughout their lives. This has constituted a problem as students often make wrong choice. But presently there is scanty research on the influencing factors such as gender, home background and student learning outcome on choice of career among secondary school students. Hence, this study was prompted by the present problems of change of subjects and course among students and undergraduates in the Nigeria secondary schools and universities respectively. The aim of the investigation is to find out if there exists some significant relationship between gender, home background and student learning outcome on student’s choice of career. It is also the intension of the researcher to identify some of the parental factors that influence student’s educational aspiration, such as: Educational and professional background, Economic factor, occupational and cultural factors. To accomplish the task, questionnaires were distributed and data collected. The total number of 109 students, were administered to in the four school used for the study. Information concerning student’s career choice and parent’s occupation and educational background, Economic status and cultural background were derived from the questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using mean and frequency analysis. Students with involved parents no matter what their income and background are more likely to make more rational career choice. Also parents who are actively involved in their children education, helps to guide the children career choice. Parents should not allow their professional and educational background to overwhelm their children intellectual abilities in making choice of career. Parents should not encourage their children to choose high rated occupation because of its or their Economic Status but should engage more in guiding them to choose courses that suit their intellectual abilities. Intelligent children from poor socio-economic background should be encouraged by the government to take professional courses through scholarship, which will help them, enhance to a brighter future. Teachers should also be allowed to identify the best course for each child through continuous assessment and career counselling. Orientation workshops and seminars should be organized for parents and students aimed at changing their mind set on gender streaming. Sources of influence, such as parents or mentors, should be brought into a circle of counselling and discussion to help the student form a comprehensive career plan. Industries should invest resources for the purpose of training students, while still in secondary schools. Students should follow a career plan of informed decision-making. Teachers should also avoid being gender-biased in their appraisal of performance in class.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

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 in 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 and 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 adults are always worried about what they will do with their lives. 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 arrive at the labour market. How the young people of today meet the problem for tomorrow will depend upon the amount of success they make in planning for that tomorrow.

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). According to Kerka (2000), career choice is influenced by multiple factors which include personality, interest, self concept, cultural identity, globalization, socialization, role model, social support and available resource such as information and finances. Hewitt (2010), suggested that most people are influenced by career that their parent favour, others follow the career that their educational choice have opened for them, some choose to follow their passion regardless of how much or little it will make them; while others choose the career that gives high income. McQuaid and Bond (2003) cited that student perception of being suitable for particular jobs also has been found to be influenced by a number of factors which include ethnic background, years in school, level of achievement, choice of science subject, attitudes and difference in job characteristics. However, research show that the choice of career among secondary school student is determined by a combination of personal abilities, personality type and other factors (Okafor, 2012). This is why Onayase and Onayase, (2009) suggested an investigation into other factors which include some environmental factor such as family background, school environment, religious and peer group influence. Career according to Cambridge Advance Learner’s Dictionary (2005) refers to ‘‘job or series of job that you do during your working life’’. Thus, choosing a career, simply means choosing a life job. However, all career have their subject requirement, personality characteristic and personal abilities while are supposed to be fully assessed before individual can be deemed to be qualified to go into specific career (Onayase and Onayase, 2009). Career choice is influence by multiple factors include personality, interest, self concept, identity, globalization, socialization, role model, social support and available resources such as information and finance (Kerka, 2000). Bandura, Barbaranelli, Caprara, Pastorell, 2001) cited 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.

Hence, factors that influence career choice can either be intrinsic or extrinsic or both. Most people are influenced by career that their parent favour, other follow the career that their educational choice have opened for them, some choose to follow their passion regardless of how much or little it will make them while other choose careers that give high income. Student percept of being suitable for particular jobs also has been found to  be influence by a number of factors including ethnic background, year in school, level of achievement, choice of science subject, attitudes and differences in job characteristic(McQuaid and Bond, 2003). In a study by Perrone, Sedlacek and Alexander (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 student selected same gender. In a study by Natalie (2006), young adult through interaction with the context of family, school and community learn about and explore career which ultimately lead to their career choice. One consistent finding in research suggests that adolescent aspirations are influenced by their parent’s aspiration or expectations. Parental support and encouragement are important factors that have been found to influence career choice. Children may choose what their parents desire simply to please them (Taylor, Harris and Taylor, 2004). According to Oyamo and Amoth (2008), studies in Kenya showed that rural students tend to seek help from parents more than urban students and that parents more than teachers plays a major role in the career choice of students.

Hence, Okafor (2012) cited that generally, the choice of a career is influenced by parents, friends and counsellors. Variations occur from one population to the other. In Kenya, every secondary school student (SSS) makes their career choice before sitting for West African Examination Council (WAEC). The result of this final examination determining who joins University since admission into careers are determined by grades obtained from it. When these students graduate from the universities, some of them enter into occupations that are totally different from the ones they had chosen and trained for. The aim of this study is to look at how gender, home background and student learning outcome influence choice of career among Secondary school students in Nigeria, using some selected schools in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State as a case study.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

Nigeria is rapidly developing her technological education, which has made the society more complex than it was in the past. The number of occupation has increased greatly and also there are many careers within one occupation. For instance, farming which was a simple occupation some years ago is now a very complex occupation within many careers to choose from.

These included poultry, farming vegetable farming, e.t.c the implication of this is specialization. This is why the family, peer group, school environment and even the larger society influence the decision any student might make in choosing a life career. This constitutes a problem as students often make wrong choice.

But presently there is scanty research on the influence of environment factors such as gender, home background and student learning outcome on choice of career among Secondary school students.

1.3     Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of the study was to examine the determinant of career choice among secondary school students in Nigeria.

Other specific purposes are to:

  1. identify the influence of home background on career choice among secondary school students.
  2. examine the effect of students learning outcome on the choice of career among secondary school students.
  3. investigate the influence of gender in choice of career among secondary school students.

1.4     Research Questions

This research work sought to provide answers to the following questions:

  1. What is the role of home background and how does it affect career choice among secondary school students?
  2. Is student learning outcome an important factor in determining choice of career among secondary school students?
  3. What influence does gender have in choice of career among secondary school students?

1.5     Significance of the Study

It has been recognized recently that for a person to make realistic decision, his level of self-efficacy can indeed be very influential. It is one thing to demonstrate interest in a particular occupational field; it is another thing to have confidence in one’s ability to successfully undertake the task involved.

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 there 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.

1.6       Scope of the Study

It would have been ideal to stretch the scope of this study to cover more schools in the chosen local government (Kachia Local Government Area) in Kaduna State, but for the minimum resources available and time factor, the area of the study of this project is limited to four (4) schools under Kachia Local Government Area in Kaduna State namely: GSS Kachia Urban, GSS Katari, GSS Korontshuwa and GSS Ariko.

1.7       Definition of Terms

For clarity, the terms used in the study were clarified as follows:

Career choice: The broad opportunities that exist for lifelong vocations. These vocations are set out in a frame work of strategies moving towards personal goals.

Environment: the complex physical factors that make up our surrounding (Britannica, 2002) and in turn act upon us for the purpose of this study they would include the forces of family, social and economic issues that both typical and non-typical students may deal with on a day-to-day basis.

Motivation: forces acting on or within a person causing an initiation of behaviour (Britannica, 2002) or what it is that moves us. In this study we will deal with the issues that help or hinder students in making career choices.

Opportunity: those choices in one’s life which are exposed either in a subtle or obvious manner. These choices or paths give the individual a selection between two or more outcomes. The outcomes of one’s choosing may or may not exceed one’s present abilities.

Personality: a characteristics way of thinking, feeling and behaving (Britannica, 2002). The personality is the collection of impression in the appearance of the student’s body and the impression believed to have been made on others, good or bad. Ones personality may embrace attitudes and opinions that affect the way we deal with interactions of people and in particular to this study, the situation of choosing a career.

Gender: not biological in nature but psychological, psychomotor feature or attributes associated to an individual weather male or female by sex.

Culture: the custom, arts, social and religious institutions and achievement of a particular people or nation.

Family: the people one lives with and sees daily.

Peers: peers are adolescents who are about the same age of maturity level.

Students: in this study, it refers to individuals who are officially admitted and registered in the secondary and non-secondary school system as full time candidates.

 

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