Description
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Approval Page ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables ix
Abstract x
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study 1
Statement of the Problem 8
Research Questions 11
Research Hypotheses 12
Purpose of the Study 13
Significance of the Study 14
Operational Definition of Terms 16
Scope of the Study 17
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction 19
Concept of Career and Career Development 20
Factors Influencing Career Choice 28
Factor Affecting Career Choices among the Students
in Secondary Schools 34
Role Model and Parental Factors 36
ParentalCounselling in Nigeria 44
School Counsellor 48
Roles of parentalCounsellors in Career Development 52
Appraisal of the Reviewed Related Literatures 59
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
Introduction 61
Research Design 61
Sample and Sampling Procedure 62
Instrumentation 64
Psychometric Property of the Instrument 65
Validity 65
Reliability 65
Procedure for Data Collection 65
Method of Data Analysis 67
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS
Introduction 68
Demographic Data 68
Hypotheses Testing 73
Summary of Findings 77
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction 79
Discussion 80
Conclusion 86
Implications of the Findings 87
Recommendations 88
Suggestions for Further Studies 90
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Distribution of Respondents by Age, Gender,
Religion and Class Level 69
Table 2: Means and Rank Order of Responses to the
Items on the influence of parental
counselling services on career choice of
students 71
Table 3: Mean, Standard Deviation and t-value
of Respondents on the influence of parentalcounselling on career choice on the
basis of gender 73
Table 4: ANOVA Result on the influence of
parentalcounselling on career choice
on the basis of Religion 74
Table 5: Mean, Standard Deviation and t-value of
Respondents on the influence of parentalcounselling on career choice on the
basis of class level 75
Table 8: ANOVA Result on the Influence of parentalcounselling on career choice on the
basis of age 76
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the influence of parental Counsellingon career choice of secondary school students in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. This research work was to assess the extent to which influence of parentalCounselling has influenced in career choice of secondary school students in Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State.
The population sample was two hundred (200) students randomly selected from each school in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. The researcher’s designed influence of parentalCounselling in carrier choice questionnaire (IPCCQ) was used to collect data from the respondents. Four null hypotheses were generated to guide the study.
The finding revealed that, age, gender, religious and class level of respondents has the influence of parentalcounselling in career choice of secondary school students in Ekiti Local Government, Kwara State.
It was recommended that practicing counsellors from all levels of institutions should design individual and group counsellingprogrammes for students to cater for comprehensive and effective education for all level of institutions. Through such programmes, students will be educated to appreciate good moral and stay away from deviance behaviours in the school and outside the school. Also indecent dressing should be discouraged and students should work harder and be dedicated to their studies.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Our education system has been so fashioned by the former colonial rulers of this nation to teach us the “Three Rs” namely; reading, writing and arithmetic and added to these was religion. However, the curriculum then was meeting the need that education was introduce to serve; that of producing educated Nigerians to serve as teachers, evangelists or missionaries and to occupy clerical posts in the then colonial administration and in the few existing private. Companies (Alabi and Oyelade 1998).
However, as the nation is now moving towards scientific and technological advancement, we cannot deny the fact that more people are needed to work in the industries; and the only way we can meet the required manpower is basically through education.
Education is universally recognized as a good investment hence nations spend large sum of their annual budget to provide education for their citizens. It is common knowledge too that individuals too differ in their levels academic attainment motivation and education needs. For these reasons, a variety of educational provision is made with a view to meeting various needs. In the Nigerian context, the Nation policy on education (NPC, 1998) provides for an education structure that is meant to be both academic and vocational courses in the junior and senior secondary schools curricula.
The policy also noted the need for ‘ensuring the acquisition of appropriate skills, abilities and competencies both mental and physical as equipment for the individual to live and contribute to the development of his society”. Vocational education is viewed as the form of education whose primary purpose is to prepare individuals for employment in recognized occupations (Oke, 2002). Vocational education helps to train youth for employment in industries commerce and other enterprises by exposing them to experience that provide them manipulative, information and attitudinal skills. This types of education also trains adults who are already employed, and whose skills may have become obsolete and requires either an update of skill in this occupation or a re-training in other occupations. In this context, the type of vocational education programmes made available to youths and adult must be relevant to their needs and the needs of the occupation.
Fafunwa and Aisiku (1982) observed that the children are not free to choose the trade of their own choice but are bound to follow the guidance of their parents, thus preserving the family trades and occupations. It would be observe that this educational practice is tailored to make individuals fit into his society as a contributing member for a useful living. Career aspirations and subsequently, Crystallized choices are often discussed in connection with the adolescent who are seen as the potential member of the labor force. Scarcely do educator, counselors and vocational psychologist in developing countries focus attention on the preliminary vocational development of the child that leads to proper career choice identification as an adolescent or young adult. If functional education should work adequately, such as the present 6:3:3:4 educational system in Nigeria advocate, appropriate career orientation of the school child must be ensured right from the beginning part of formal education. This concept of vocational development approach lies at the bedrock of an individual’s interest stability, early identification of ability. Areas of giftedness and weaknesses.
Right from time immemorial, parent have always influenced the vocational choice of their children. In the pre-colonial era, parents made sure that their children; especially the first male child was trained in the family vocation. This was purely for the purpose of enhancing social and economic prospects or more often, to secure protection or the glamour and popularity derivable from such vocation. In fact, the choice of a vocation in principle has depended largely on what the individual intends to gain from it materially or other wise.
The introduction of formal education did not change very much the position of things. The family is still a major influence in the vocational choice of the student. Parents in most cases without due consideration of their interests, aptitude and abilities or the manpower need of the nation. Choice of future vocation is very important. It is on this base that Idiaghe (2000) said that the period of adolescence which is from the age of 12-18 years and to which the secondary school students belong is characterized by the problem of deciding on a future occupation. Involved in this choice is decision on a future. This is why Edward de bone (1969) said “as soon as a youngster leaves school, he/she has to deal with the future in respect of plans, decision, choice and imitative that are going to take place. In line with this, Idighe (2000) advised that such choice if wrongly made would close doors and confine future career decision within narrow limits.
Occupational selection is of critical importance in the lives of young people. It influences almost every aspect of a persons life. It can change individual valves, ideas and standard. It involves decision making and interpersonal influence. Sometimes, interpersonal relationship may not be rewarding.
It is an accepted phenomenon that parents are interested in the future welfare of their children. Parents guide the line of thoughts of their children right from early age of their lives by inculcating into them certain social values so they could mature into a social being participating in the social roles of the society. The effort on the part of the parents has far reaching effects on the child personal life. They decide on the type of schools they want their children to attend because the quality of the school and aspiration of the children and their opportunities for employment and subsequently, the roles they play in the society.
Parents in Nigeria influence their children’s choice of career without considering other factors that are relevant to the choice of career. Some parents even consider their children as misfits when they do not pursue the career of their choice. Parents in particular, prefer occupations that are known to have high prestige valves for their children. Although parental influence on occupational choice is quite popular, some secondary school students make occupational choices, which by chance happen to correspond with that which their parents want them to do.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Occupational choices have been known to be made by parents for their children without the consideration of where the child’s interest lies or what child is capable of doing and due to this kind of parental influence, some students have found themselves, to be unhappy for not being allowed to do what they found to be of interest to them and what they believe they can do best. This non-conformity in values has vital consequences on the occupational aspirations and subsequent choice as this affect the individual’s productivity.
The central problem of this study is the influence of parents towards their children’s choice of career.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of the study is to find out the extend to which parents influence affect career choice among secondary school student in Ekiti local government Area of kwara state
In this study, variables that constitute the parental influences on students choice of career were identified in order to provide useful information for counseling practices.
Hypothesis Testing
The four null hypotheses formulated for this study were tested using t-test and ANOVA statistical measures. All hypotheses were tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance.
Hypothesis One: There is no significant difference in the expression of secondary school students on the influence of parental counselling on career choices on the basis of sex.
Hypothesis Two: There is no significant difference in the expression of secondary school students on the influence of parentalcounselling on career choices on the basis of religion.
Hypothesis Three: There is no significant difference in the expression of secondary school students on the influence of parentalcounselling on career choices on the basis of class level.
Hypothesis Four: There is no significant difference in the expression of secondary school students on the influence of parentalcounselling on career choices on the basis of age.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is the hope of the researcher that at the end of the study, an insight would be gained into occupational preference of students and the influence of parents on the preferences made.
The findings would help the Guidance Counselors to know more about student’s problems and how to help them by giving them proper career counseling. Thus, if properly handled, it would save students from future frustration in choosing the wrong profession and the nation would also benefit from proper employment and productivity of individuals.
Also, it would provide educators and planners with the awareness of facts that can help them in finding ways of meeting the personal needs of students.
Finally, the study would provide useful information, which will guide future generations of students in their choice of vocation. It would also provide necessary guidance to students who are presently in secondary schools.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study focuses on the influence of parents with regards to the choice of occupation by their children. Parental influence on the choices of occupation by children cannot be studied in isolation without mentioning the key variables which could have intervening forces with parental influence during career decision-making process of students.
The study will be limited to five selected secondary schools in Ekiti local government Area of kwara state, Since it is not possible to cover all the schools in the area. The survey shall focus on students in senior secondary school SSSIII.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
INFLUENCE: This entails a relatively stable learned disposition to respond to social object in a particular manner, reflecting evaluative concepts or belief about the object. Influence can be positive or negative.
VOCATION: This refers to a particular occupation, business, or professions, or trade or calling to a particular activity
PARENTS: Father and mother
CAREER: This refers to a sequence of occupation, jobs and positions throughout a person’s working life.
EDUCATION: This is simply the process of transmitting and committing a body of knowledge, skills and attitude, which naturally should lead to a change in behaviour.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: This refers to preparation of individuals for employment in recognized occupation. And providing appropriate training in skills, abilities, and knowledge to individuals to enable them to enter and progress in their field of occupations.
OCCUPATIONAL ASPIRATION: This refers to person’s orientation towards occupational goals.
OCCUPATIONAL CHOICE: This refers to the psychological preference or desire the individual has regarding work status.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of parentalcounselling on career choice as expressed by secondary school student in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. Two hundred respondents were involved in the conduct of the study. An instrument tagged “Influencing of parentalCounselling on career
choice Questionnaire (IGCCCQ) was used to collect the required data for the investigation with respect to age, gender, religion and class level. Four null hypotheses were formulated and tested in the course of this study. This chapter, therefore, contains the discussion of findings, conclusions, implications of the findings, recommendations and suggestion for further studies.
Discussion of Findings
The analysis of responses to the twenty items revealed that item 1 was ranked first which stated that parentalcounsellinginfluences career choice of secondary school students through, choosing the appropriate career for students. This is in line with the findings of Odeck (1999), Ipaye (1995), Makinde (1981) who found out that parentalcounsellors influence the career choices of secondary school students by deciding and choosing appropriate career.
Item 6 which stated that parentalcounselling influences career choices of the students by educating them on the skills that are needed for a choosen career is ranked 2nd. This is in line with the finding of Brown, Brooks and Associates (1998) who found that educating students on the skills that are needed in their choosen career will enhance career development of secondary school students. According to them, counselling is a process of getting ready to choose, chosing and continuing to make choices (Brom, Brooks), and Associates, 1996).
Item 7 which stated that parentalcounselling influences career choice of secondary schools students by providing information to the students about the particular occupation is ranked third. This supports the finding of Holland (1987) who found that providing adequate information to the students on variety of jobs or occupations. This is equally supported by Morris and Levinson (1995); Pierce, McDermolt, and Butkus (2003).
Item 5 which stated that parentalcounselling influences career choices of secondary school students by giving firsthand knowledge about the kind of career to be choosen. This agrees with the findings of Szymanski, Herschensohn, Enright and Ettinger (1996) found out the providing firsthand information to the students about the kind of career to be chosen by school counsellors enhances students’ career development.
Item 4 which stated that parentalcounselling influences career choices by ensuring that the students understand. The norms and values of work is ranked 5th. This agrees with the finding of Spokane (1991) who found out that ensuring the students to know the norms and values of work enhances career development.
On the other hand, item 18 which stated that parentalcounselling influences career choices of secondary school students by teaching them to respect manual labour is ranked 20th. This is supported by the work of Gearheart and Gearheart (1990) who found least correlation between teaching the students to respect manual labour and career development.
Item 16 which stated that parentalcounselling influences career choice of secondary school students by offering opportunities to students in the area of choice is ranked 19th. This is not supported by the findings of Bandura, Barbaranelli, Caprara and Pastorelli (2001) who found out that the positive correlation between offering opportunities to students in the area of choice and career development.
Damboyi (2002) stated that, it is better for a researcher to discuss, his/her findings on the basis of each hypothesis. Thus, this section presents the results of each null hypothesis tested. The t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Statistics were adopted to analyse the hypotheses.
Hypothesis one stated that there is no significant difference in the expression of secondary school students on the influence of parentalcounselling on career choices on the basis of sex. The result indicated that the null hypothesis was rejected. This implies that there is a significance difference the expression of secondary school students the influence of parentalcounselling on career choices on the basis of gender. This is in line with the findings of Nielson, on Hellens, Greenhi and Pringle (1999; Nielsen et.al, 1998) who found the relationship between gender and career choices among the secondary school students.
Hypothesis two stated that there is no significant difference in the expression of secondary school students on the influence of parentalcounselling on career choices on the basis of religion. The result indicated that the null hypothesis was accepted. This implies that there is a significant difference in the expression of secondary school students on the influence of counselling on career choices on the basis of religion. This agrees with the finding of Nielsen et.al (1998) who found a correlation between religion practices and career development.
Hypothesis three stated that there is no significant difference in the expression of secondary school students on the influence of parentalcounselling on career choices on the basis of class level. The result indicated that the null hypothesis was accepted. This implies that there is no significant difference in the expression of secondary school students on the influence of parentalcounselling on career choices on the basis of class level. This agrees with the finding of Okobiah and Okordudu (2004) who found no correlation between class level of students and career choices.
Hypothesis four stated that there is no significant difference in the expression of secondary school students on the influence of parentalcounselling on career choices on the basics of age. The result indicated that the null hypothesis was accepted. This implies that there is no significant difference in the expression of secondary school students on the influence of parentalcounselling on career choice on the basis of age. This is in line with the finding of Francis (2010) who found no relationship between students’ age and career choices.
Conclusion
From all that has been discussed, it has become obvious that parentalcounselling influences career choices of secondary school students. Some of these influences include choosing the appropriate career educating the students on the skills that are needed for a chosen career; providing adequate information about the particular occupation; providing firsthand knowledge about the kind of career to be choosen and ensuring that the students understanding the norms and values of work. Also, parentalcounsellors should be aware of the factors affecting or influencing career choices as they provide vocational counselling for secondary school students.
Besides the above it was also observed that career counselling is very significant for career development of secondary school students. This is because the average secondary school adolescent student needs help to be able to make appropriate career choices.
Implications of the Findings
The results of this study have significant implications for school counsellors, researchers, policy-makers and school administrators. The study indicated that parentalcounselling plays vital roles in career development of secondary school students. Therefore, all these vital roles should be known and understood by career counsellors, policy makers and school administrators. Parentalcounsellors should make maximum use of the findings of the study in their career counselling.
Parentalcounsellors should use the findings of the study in helping the students to select their careers according to their choices and interest. The findings of the study will assist the career counsellors in doing self analysis, occupational analysis, and true reasoning or counselling to relate personal and occupation information for secondary school students.
Moreover, the findings of this study will assist the school administrators and policy-makers in formulating and implementing counselling programs in our secondary schools.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of the study, it could therefore, be recommended that:
- School counsellors should organize or offer a career week to address personal career development issues which is a continuation of the career day. One or two days of the week should be dedicated to introducing seniors to career options by seasoned professionals in the community. The rest of the career week should be dedicated to assessments much look those offered by personal career development coaches.
- There is the need for the personal career development interview with a secondary school counsellor or personal career development coach. According to NCDA (2003), this interview allows the students to fully explore and discuss career options, and make a decision about the path that he/she wants his/her career to take. The counsellor or personal career development coach then provides the secondary school student with several resources to help them start on their path to personal career development.
- Career development should be seen as inevitable to the happiness and self-actualization of the child and as such, the home, classroom and the community at large should be seen as a workplace and all members as workers (NCDA, 2003).
- Career counselling should be seen as imperative to appropriate career development and as such should be given priority in school administration.
- Considering the importance of counselling parents, teachers, friends, mentors and all capable members of the community should act as support groups, for appropriate career development.
- Professional counsellors should harness discriminately in the factors affecting career choices for counselling students with respect to appropriate career development.
Suggestions for Further Studies
This study was limited to investigating the influence of parentalcounselling on career choice among the secondary school students in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. Subsequent studies may consider the following areas:
(1) The factors influencing career choice among the secondary school students in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
(2) The influence of parentalcounselling in career development among the tertiary school students in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
