A
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CAREER ASPIRATIONS OF STUDENTS IN RURAL AND URBAN SCHOOLS
ABSTRACT
This
study attempted to examine whether there is a relationship between school
location and career aspirations of students. Some related and relevant
literature were reviewed under sub headings such as the concept of career and
career choice, theories of career choice, peer influence on career choice among
others. The descriptive research survey design was used to assess the opinions
of the randomly selected respondents with the aid of a questionnaire and the
sampling technique. A total of 120 (one hundred and twenty) respondents were
selected as samples for the study. Five null hypotheses were formulated and
tested using the frequency percentages, ranking and the Pearson Product Moment
Correlation Statistical tool at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed
among others that there was no significant relationship between school location
and vocational interests of students. It was also revealed that a significant
relationship exist between gender and vocational interest.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of contents
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the Study
1.2 Statement
of the
Problem
1.3 Purpose
of the
Study
1.4 Research
Questions
1.5 Research
Hypotheses
1.6 Significance
of the
Study
1.7 Scope
of the
Study
1.8 Definition
of Key
Terms
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE
REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
2.1 The
Concept of Career and Career Choice
2.2 Theories
of Career
Choice
2.3 Peer
Group Influence on Career
Choice
2.4 Influence
of Parents Social Economic Status on Career Choice
2.5 Influence
of Sex on Career
Choice
2.6 Influence
of Motivation on Career Choice
2.7 Need
for Career
Information
2.8 Expectations
in Career
Aspirations
2.9 Summary
of
Review
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
1.1 Research
design
1.2 Population
of the
study
1.3 Sample
and sampling
technique
1.4 Research
instrument
1.5 Procedure
for data
collection
1.6 Procedure
for data
analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA
ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATIONS AND
SUMMARY OF
FINDINGS
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Testing
of
Hypotheses
4.3 Summary
of
Findings
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS,
CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Discussion
of
Findings
1.3 Conclusions
1.4 Recommendations
1.5 Suggestions
for Further Studies
References
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the Study
It
is quite interesting to hear young people talk about career aspirations and
reasons for their choices. Many of them especially, the final year students in
the various secondary schools face the problem of choosing a career they will
pursue in future (Munoye, 2000). Considering their age, their choices are
influenced by many factors such as peer group, parents socio-economic status,
sex of the student, interest and motivational level, availability of career information,
subject studied at school and so on. According to Mailumo (2001) the problem
with career aspirations and choice is further compounded because of the lack of
adequate career education, simply put as work-related education, which he says
is a strong determinant of career choice. He believes that the individual needs
to become aware and well informed of all about the world of work as one of
those aspects of human endeavour.
Secondly,
there is an acute shortage, if not a complete absence of trained guidance
counsellors in most Nigerian schools, especially in public and state schools.
This need is well articulated in the revised National Policy on Education (NPE,
2004). The policy states that “in view of the apparent ignorance of many young
people about career prospects, and in view of personality maladjustment amongst
school children, career officers and counsellors ought to be appointed in
post-primary institutions”.
A
one time Minister of Education in Nigeria, Prof. Jubril Aminu, described
guidance and counselling as indispensable to the 6-3-3-4 system of education,
that through its application, students could be correcting or guided to go into
areas that are best suited to their abilities, aptitudes, interests and
capabilities (Daily Times, March, 20, 1988).
But
in spite of all these policy statements and other pronouncements, most
post-primary schools in the country have not had the opportunity to have
guidance counsellors. This is rather unfortunate because with the multiplicity
of career alternatives based on individual differences, abilities and
aptitudes, education and length of training, sex, interests among others,
career choice is becoming increasingly difficult (Ayo, 1990). The development
in science and technology has led to new careers of which most people are not
aware of (Omoegun and Buraimo, 2001). To Olayinka (1986), Career services in
schools should be an integral part of our educational system especially, if we
want education to be functional, child-centered and job-oriented.
Olayinka
(1973) investigated the difference in vocational aspirations of boys and girls
in Lagos. This study revealed that majority of the youths choose jobs without
relating them to their interest and capabilities to cope with the nature of
jobs. This, according to him was due to the absence of adequate guidance by
school counsellors. In the same vein, he asserted that the youths especially,
those living in the urban areas were enticed to choose jobs simply because such
jobs had a high payment or remuneration or for prestigious reasons. The result
of this study also showed that girls were unrealistic in their choices of some
careers when their performance was observed in certain subject areas.
According
to Anyanwu (1994), when one compares the job aspirations of children from urban
and rural areas, that of the children from urban areas are higher. According to
him, children from high socio-economic status who also live in the metropolis,
tend to aspire to be doctors, lawyers, engineers, pharmacists, accountants, pilots
etc; while children who live in the rural areas who are not exposed to the
urban life tend to have lower aspirations. The children in urban schools,
because of their exposure to urban life, will always want to meet up with the
expectations of their parents and the society.
As
Adeleke (1990) puts it, majority of the rural children tend to be school
drop-outs. Many of them stop school often to join one trade or the other. They
normally become apprentices to learn one vocation or the other instead of continuing
their education for higher and better choice of jobs at the end of their
education in the higher institutions.
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
No
doubt, when adolescents choose careers without adequate direction and
information on the type and nature of career they choose, it leads them to
unrealised career aspiration and fulfillment in life. Also, when one is in a
career one is not cut out naturally for, one is bound to become unhappy and in
many instances, people have been frustrated all through their lives due to the
fact that they made wrong choices in their occupations.
The
problems of rural and urban areas and youths’ choices of occupations cannot be
overemphasized. For example, children in the urban areas usually select careers
based on the information and discretion they have either by their parents or
from the media which abound in the cities than the rural areas.
The
youths who dwell in the rural areas often find it difficult to make a good
choice of jobs that will see them through in life. Rather, due to lack of
correct information and direction on job choice, youths in the rural areas are
found to make wrong career choices. Most of them end up to choose wine tapping,
carpentry, iron benders, plumbers, bicycle repairers, mechanics etc.
This
study examines career aspirations of students in the urban and rural schools in
Lagos State.
1.3 Purpose
of the Study
The
purpose of this study is to examine and compare career aspirations of students
in urban and rural schools in Lagos State.
The
specific objectives of this study include:
i. To
find out whether peer group influences adolescents’ career aspirations in both
urban and rural environments.
ii. To
find out whether the socio-economic status of parents influences their
children’s career.
iii. To
find out whether the sex of the child has any role to play in the career choice
of youths.
iv. To
find out whether motivational level of the child has significant influence on
his/her choice of career.
v. To
find out whether information on career affects children’s involvement in one
career or the other.
vi. To
find out whether interest of the child influences his or her career aspirations
in life.
1.4 Research
Questions
The
following research questions were raised in this study:
i. To
what extent will the career aspirations of students in urban schools differ
from that of rural schools?
ii. Will
there be any relationship between peer group and the career choice of students?
iii. Will
there be a significant relationship between parents’ socio-economic status and
children’s career aspirations?
iv. Is
there a relationship between the sex of the child and his or her choice of
career
v. To
what extent will interest affect the career choice of students?
vi. To
what extent will there be any relationship between the motivational level of
the students and their choice of career?
1.5 Research
Hypotheses
The
following hypotheses were formulated for testing in this study:
i. There
will be no significant influence of interest on the vocational aspirations of
students in schools.
ii. There
will be no significant gender relationship in the vocational interest of students
in schools.
iii. There
will be no significant relationship between parents’ occupation and the
vocational interest of students in school.
iv. There
will be no significant relationship between school location and vocational
interests of students in school.
v. There
will be no significant vocational interest by females students in schools.
1.6 Significance
of the Study
This
study will be of great benefit to students because they would gain an insight
on career choice and aspirations. The study will help them to understand the
importance of choosing a career or selecting subjects that can lead them to
certain jobs in life. With the findings and recommendations of the study,
students will appreciate the essence of choosing the right jobs. Also, students
in the rural areas will be assisted by the recommendations, which will help
them and encourage them to embrace the attributes of choosing jobs that will be
of great importance to them in future.
The
result of this study and its recommendations will help guidance counsellors
appreciate the more, the fact that students at the secondary school level need
to be helped through their wealth of experience in order to choose better
careers in life.
Through
this study both the Federal and State government will appreciate the fact that
the child in school needs to be well guided in order to make a choice of career
that will benefit him in future. The study will help governments to put in
place some systems that will help the child to be able to make a choice of
career. It will also enable government to realise the importance of the school
counsellor to the career aspirations of the child.
Parents
will no doubt appreciate this study because it will enable them to understand
the job aspirations of their children. With the recommendations parents will be
encouraged to be conversant with the future of their children and the danger in
imposing or choosing careers for them.
1.7 Scope
of the Study
The
study is a comparative study of career aspirations of students in urban and
rural areas of Lagos State.
Participants
will be secondary school children (SS 2 students) from randomly selected
secondary schools in Lagos Mainland representing urban schools and Ikorodu
representing rural schools.
The
variables to be considered will include age, socio-economic status of parents
of students, interest, motivational level, peer-group influence and
availability of career information.
1.8 Definition
of Key Terms
The
terms used in this study will be operationally defined as follows:
i. Career: This
is defined by Super and Super (1989) as a sequence of occupations, jobs and
positions occupied during a persons working life. Career will be used
interchangeably to mean one and the same with vocation, occupation, duty, job,
profession. These are what we do to earn a living, although there are subtle
differences. Certain expectations are expected of each career. Doctors are
expected to be clean intellectual and sympathetic lawyers are expected to be
able to argue intelligently. They are to be bold cunning and have broad
world-view. Teachers ought to be disciplined and neat.
ii. Aspiration: Arnolds
(1990), aspiration is a strong desire to do something great or important. This
is the desire youths or even adults have in getting involved in a certain
profession, job or career.
iii. Expectation: According
to Advanced Learners Dictionary (1980) expectation is the conditions of
expecting something. It is an hope that one has for the future.
iv. Motivation: Motivation
is the reason to do or for doing something. According to Abraham Maslow (1943)
motivation is a drive to act on the direction of a particular outcome.
Aspiration is a function of both needs and the probability that those needs
will be met.
TOPIC: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CAREER ASPIRATIONS OF STUDENTS IN RURAL AND URBAN SCHOOLS
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Chapters: 1 - 5
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