ABSTRACT: This study examines Parental influence and the choice of career among Business Studies students in junior secondary schools. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, three research questions were postulated by the researchers to guide the study. A survey research design was used. Sample size of 200 respondents (students) was selected from five secondary schools. A simple sampling technique was used for the selection. More so, questionnaire was the instrument used to obtain data from the respondents for the study. All questionnaires administered were duly returned by the respondents. Consequently, the data were subjected to statistical analysis using simple percentage method. The results of the findings revealed that gender do influence the career choice of students in Business Studies.
Parental influence and the choice of career among Business Studies students in junior secondary schools
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The decision to choose a career is important and should normally be made easy in life. In Nigeria, this decision appears to be seriously influenced by the wishes of parents and guardians. Consequently, in a number of cases, youths go in for career on the basis of parents’ choice or friends. Others go in for career that they are not adequately endowed by nature for such career while others register in career that lack the personality traits necessary for success. Okerie and Ezeji (2005) reported that many youths in Nigeria today choose career based on the factors of high learning, special personal qualities, age, interest, aptitude talents, sex influence, religious affiliation, political and economic situation.
Oladele (2002) feels that research findings suggest that there is absence of awareness and knowledge about the varied career prospects in several fields which are very rewarding but not explored by secondary school students. As a result, students are choosing subject that are not related to their chosen career. Thus, they consequently dedicated themselves to permanent career or occupation choice whose end-result is frustration.
Super (2004:102) argues that the term “career” should be understood in term of the sequence of major position occupied by a person throughout his pre-occupational and post occupational life, including work-related life such as people pursue them, they are person-centered.
The Federal Government of Nigeria being fully aware of the significance of the problem among the Nigerian youths include guidance and counseling service in its National Policy on Education (1998:108) which states, among other things that in view of the apparent ignorance of many young people about career choice prospects and in view of personality maladjustment among student, career officer and counselors will be appointed in post-primary institutions. Abiri (2002) argues that if our society is not to be overwhelmed by board of disgruntled and frustrated individuals, it is desirable with due realization of limits of his own potentialities, the available opportunities and social expectation in the community.
The factors that Influence peer group and students’ career choice in Secondary Schools at any time are varied in nature. Some of the factors play significantly and domineering roles in choice of work, others are less potent. While some of the factors have psychological and biological basis, many stem from the economical and political setup in which the individual finds themselves fit in selecting their career.
Onyefiaku (1987:210), not yet realistic in their career choice. Clearly, career perception should reflect the job opportunities in the society on one hand, on the other hand the educational and basic process for every entry into these jobs. Students should also reckon with their own objective assessment of their ability and interest.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The world economy took a downward turn in early 2008 due to the global economic meltdown. Nigeria as country was not insulated from the effect of this meltdown. There were job losses not only as a result of downsizing or rightsizing the workforce but also as a result of capacity underutilization in industries. There has been general unemployment and especially graduate unemployment which still persists. There are, however, numerous job opportunities for competent secretarial studies graduates in many industries ranging from education, health to government and retail trade.
Indeed, secretaries and administrative assistants are said to have held 4.3 million jobs in 2008 in the United States and accounts for the largest job category in the United State (Super 2004). The situation in Nigeria may not be different but many youths are unaware of the vast opportunities secretarial studies would provide them with. They see secretarial education as a course of last resort and for many youths it is essentially for the female.
Unemployment is ravaging graduates from all levels of tertiary education yet the goldmine of secretarial studies records low enrolment of students and the few students enrolled do not seem to see much self worth in them. What have to be determined are the factors that are responsible for the career choice in which peer group, gender differences cannot be left out.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study was to investigate the Parental influence and the choice of career among Business Studies students in junior secondary schools in Itu Local Government Area. The specific purposes were:
(1) To determine the extent educational level of parent influences the choice of career of students;
(2) To examine the motive of career choice by parents gender in aspect of parental influence; and
(3) To identify the relationship between occupational information and the students’ career choice.
Parental influence and the choice of career among Business Studies students in junior secondary schools
1.4 Significance of the Study
It is highly necessary that secondary school students should choose their career wisely. It appears that they will require the guidance of trained counselors to give the needed assistance. This assistance might begin at the point of subject combination and choice of career.
As a result, this study was based specifically on the following ways:
(1) Researchers will have a greater knowledge on what motivates students to like a particular job that will enable them to achieve their future goal;
(2) The findings will assist educators and administrators to build up the secondary school curriculum, guidance and counseling programme career choices;
(3) Secondary school teachers will benefit from the findings by knowing when and how to introduce job conditions and requirement for students;
(4) Parents of school children will gain from the study and understand how to present choices of career to their children without personal bias; and
(5) Students will benefit from the study by gaining proper insight of what is involved in career choices.
