The Effect of Career Choice on the Academic Performance
Abstract
This study was designed to examine the Effect of Career Choice on the Academic Performance. The design adopted for the study was export-facto research design. The population of the study was One thousand eight hundred and three (1803) students in the study area. One hundred and twenty (120) students were randomly selected and used for the study as sample size. The instrument use for data collection was a questionnaire and student examination scores. Three research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The null hypotheses formulated were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistical tool. The finding from the analysis revealed that there was a significant relationship between career choice and student’s academic performance in Secondary Schools.
The Effect of Career Choice on the Academic Performance
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Education has been described as a vital and indispensable key to any form of development (Jibrin, et al., 2012). Education in its broadest sense encompasses all the process individuals go through in life to develop and optionally utilize their potentials through the acquisition of knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes that are necessary for effective living in society (Umar, et al., 2012). In projection, it is a process that starts from birth and ends with death which means that education is a lifelong process. Education is an instrument for economic, political and scientific development of all nations (Jibrin, et al., 2012).
According to Umar, et al., (2014), secondary school education is the engine room of knowledge acquisition, a stage at which students come in contact with various subjects, which determine the field of study they will like to pursue in higher secondary school education is kind of level after the primary education and before higher education. Its position in educational system also speaks of its importance. The National policy on Education (FGN, 2004) stated that the aim of education is to inculcate in the child, the spirit of inquiry and secondly, education should equip students to live effectively in our modern age of science and technology.
Career selection is one of the many important choices students will make in determining future plans. This decision will impact them throughout their lives. Brown (2002) describes the process of choosing a career as one of estimating one’s ability and values, estimating the skills and abilities required for success in a given occupation, and estimating the work values that will be satisfied by the various occupational alternatives available. The essence of who the student is will revolve around what the student wants to do with their life-long work (Borchert, 2002). Parents, teachers, the society and the government as a whole recognize the need for proper career guidance and development.
Ferry (2013) reports that career choices are pivotal points in adolescents’ lives. So no matter if they are headed for work or for college, there are factors that affect their career decisions. Career development, for most people, is a lifelong process of engaging the work world through choosing among employment opportunities made available to them. Each individual undertaking the process is influenced by many factors, including the context in which they live, their personal aptitudes, and educational attainment (Bandura, Barbaranelli, Caprara, & Pastorelli, 2001).
Muraguri, (2011) states that an individual’s choice of career is likely to be influenced by several factors including personal and cultural values, family background, career expectations and career guidance. Some also make career decisions by taking the path of least resistance—for example, following a career path advocated by their parents or following in the footsteps of an elder sibling (Carlos, 2009). 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.
Several studies show that new students all over the world are usually faced with a dilemma in making a career choice decision in their lives (Issa and Nwalo 2008; Macgregor 2007; McMahon and Watson 2005, Cherian 1991;). In his study of career choice of Nigerian youths, Salami (1999) found that many youths made wrong career choices due to ignorance, inexperience, peer pressure, advice from friends, parents and teachers, or as a result of prestige attached to certain jobs without adequate vocational guidance and career counseling. Therefore, the concept of career development involves the person’s creation of a career pattern, decision-making style, integration of life roles, values expression, and life-roles self-concepts (Herr, Cramer, & Niles, 2004).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
When considering the educational stage at which choice is to be made, secondary school is the best option. This is because most of these students choose jobs without relating them to their interest, satisfaction and capacity to cope with the nature of the job. The problem of inferiority complex, personal confidence, self-motivation and inter-personal relationship lead to building of fellow students, this at times leads to truancy in the school. Also some students do not have self confidence in terms of keeping themselves and do not want help from other people. It was against this background that the researcher was interested to investigate the influence of career choice on students’ academic performance in secondary schools in Etinan Local Government Area.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to examine career choice and students’ academic achievement in secondary schools in Etinan Local Government Area.
Specifically, this study intends:
- To ascertain the impact of parental factor on the choice of career and students academic performance in secondary schools in Etinan Local Government Area.
- To ascertain the impact of peer influences on the choice of career and students academic performance in secondary schools in Etinan Local Government Area.
- To ascertain the impact of role model on the choice of career and students academic performance in secondary schools in Etinan Local Government Area
1.4 Significance of the Study
The study would be significant in the following ways:
- The findings of this study is expected to help the curriculum developers to design educational programmes that would be used in teaching specific aptitude and skills required by students to be able to implement their vocational aspiration
- The study will be of great benefit to secondary school students in acquiring skills and attitude necessary to develop educational goals which are suited to their needs, interest and abilities.
- To the teachers in secondary schools in providing necessary supports, guide and counseling pertaining to students’ choice of career.
- To parents so they could look inward at the children aptitude, interest and aspirations and not force the youths on a particular vocation.
- To scholars, governments, researchers and the general public who intend to broaden the search on the impacts of vocational guidance on career choice
The Effect of Career Choice on the Academic Performance
1.5 Research Questions
The following research were raised to guide the study
- To what extent does parental factor on career choice impact on students’ academic performance in secondary schools in Etinan Local Government Area
- To what extent does peer influence on career choice affects on students’ academic performance in secondary schools in Etinan Local Government Area
- To what extent does role model on career choice influence students’ academic performance in secondary schools in Etinan Local Government Area
1.6 Research Hypotheses
Three null hypotheses (H0) were formulated by the researcher for testing:
- There is no significant relationship between parental factor and choice of career of secondary school student in Etinan Local Government Area
- There is no significant relationship between peer influence and choice of career of secondary school students in Etinan Local Government Area
- There is no significant relationship between role model and choice of career of secondary school students in Etinan Local Government Area
1.7 Limitation of the Study
This study centers on the impact of career choice on the students’ academic performance. However the research has some constraints these are:
Time: The time at the disposal of the researcher which is allocated for the study was a major limitation as the researcher has to combine other academic work with the study.
Finance: The finance at the disposal of the researcher in the course of the study does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic expenses to attend to.
1.8 Delimitation of the study
The study was delimited to career choice and students’ academic achievement in secondary school in Etinan Local Government Area, the study was also delimited to selected secondary schools in Etinan Local Government Area.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Counseling: An intervention is an orchestrated attempt by one or many people – usually family and friends – to get someone to seek professional help with an addiction or some kind of traumatic event or crisis, or other serious problem
Career: A career is an individual’s journey through learning, work and other aspects of life. There are a number of ways to define a career and the term is used in a variety of ways.
Guidance: Help and advice about how to do something or about how to deal with problems connected with your work, education, or personal relationship.
Guidance Counsellors: A school counselor is a counselor and an educator who works in primary (elementary and middle) schools and/or secondary schools to provide academic, career, college access/affordability/admission, and social-emotional competencies to all students through a school counseling program.
Adolescents: To grow up which is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood.
