PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON CAREER CHOICE OF A CHILD IN ANAMBRA STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
One of the most important functions of education in our society today is to assist learners in making various career choices, including subject selection by students that will match their individual interests, abilities, personalities, and so on. A career is an activity, profession, or occupation, as well as others that comprise a way of life expressed in time, energy, and activity (Oladele, 2002). It simply refers to a particular type of work or way of life that a person believes he or she is uniquely suited for.
It is well known that most young students struggle with subject selection in secondary school. Senior secondary education (SSS) is the third stage of the current 6-3-3-4 educational system. This educational system was created by
The National Policy on Education exposes students to as many disciplines as possible in junior secondary school (J.S.S.) before allowing them to choose subjects in senior secondary school (SSS).
Choosing from such a plethora of options becomes a herculean task for the students. It is one of many important decisions that students will make in determining their future plans, and this decision will have an impact on them for the rest of their lives. The choice determines the level of satisfaction one expects from his work as well as his opportunities for advancement and promotion. The type of work an individual does influences his or her social status, income, lifestyle, friends, and mental and physical health. In other words, a person’s profession
His choice or preference is very important in his entire life. Researchers have discovered that most students have insufficient knowledge about various jobs, courses of study, and other activities. As a result, they are unable to determine whether their choices are reasonable. Without detailed and adequate information about occupations, students may enter jobs blindly, only to become frustrated and unhappy later in life, possibly when a retreat is no longer easy or possible (Omeje, 2007).
Okeke (2000) contends that parents and guardians have a significant influence on their children’s career and subject choices, and that parents’ characteristics played a critical role in students’ choice of technical subjects. The task of preparing their children for school is critical for parents.
education. According to Mabunda (2002), parents have a greater influence on their child’s development and future career choices when it comes to career guidance. On the other hand, parents may feel compelled to force their adolescent children to pursue a career that will please them. Thus, the premise of this study is to investigate parental influence on adolescent career choice.
1.2 Problem description
In senior secondary school, adolescent students are expected to choose their careers. They frequently turn to their parents for advice on which subject and career to pursue. In some cases, they pursue careers that they have heard about despite the fact that they lack the necessary qualifications. Parents and Guardians have the authority to train, direct, and guide their children or wards in order for them to obtain or acquire religious, psychological, social, moral, and educational values. The gap here is as follows: How possible is this injunction if students are forced by their parents to pursue subjects that will direct their interests toward their parents’ aspirations, at the expense of the children’s interest in their own desired field? Do parents today pay adequate attention to their children’s or wards’ aptitudes, mental capabilities, interests, resources, and limitations before making suggestive impressions on them? This parental impression may have a positive impact on the child if the child can adapt to it, but it may have a negative impact if the child cannot adapt to it.
As a priority, the child has various desires or goals. Some parents use this directive to influence their children’s secondary school subject selection. Some threaten to withdraw from their children’s or wards’ educational pursuits if their subject of choice does not correspond to their personal interests. As a result, such students may be affected negatively or positively. Against this backdrop, this study seeks to investigate parental influence on a child’s career choice.
1.3 The study’s purpose
The primary goal of this study is to investigate parental influence on a child’s career choice. The study specifically seeks to:
1. To investigate the extent to which parental occupational preferences influence secondary students’ subject choices.
school.
2. To ascertain the extent to which parental values influence students’ subject choices in secondary school.
3. To ascertain how parental education influences students’ secondary school choices.
4. To determine the extent to which parental influence on subject selection predicts students’ academic performance in secondary school.
1.4 Research concerns
1. To what extent does parental occupational preference influence students’ secondary school subject choices?
2. To what extent do parental values influence students’ secondary school subject choices?
3. How does parental education influence students’ secondary school choices?
4. To what extent does parental influence on subject selection predict secondary school students’ academic performance?
1.5 Importance of the research
The study’s findings will be beneficial to students, teachers, parents, and others. Government officials as well as guidance counselors. This research will be especially useful to students in making an informed decision about their future career. It will raise awareness about fringe benefits and opportunities for advancement/improvement that adolescents will need to make effective and realistic career decisions. The study’s findings will assist teachers in developing class projects that require students to research a specific occupation and apply course content to that occupation. This will allow teachers to sort and place students based on their subject preferences and occupational class. Multiple interest groups will provide better orientation, facilitate learning and growth, and improve career decisions. Furthermore, the findings of this study will be extremely beneficial to parents. It will aid in guiding and counseling parents on issues concerning
to the choice of vocation for their children and wards. The study will be used as a resource for students and researchers who want to conduct additional research in a related field of study.
1.6 The Study’s Scope
The study’s scope includes parental influence on their child’s career choice. The study, however, is restricted to Anambra State.
1.7 Study Restrictions
The following factors are proposed as limitations during the course of this research.
Financial constraints tend to impede the researcher’s efficiency in locating relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will conduct this study alongside other academic work. As a result of this,
The amount of time spent on research is cut in half.
1.8 Term Definition
Career choice is the selection of a vocation, usually based on parental guidance, vocational guidance, identification with admired figures, trial or part-time jobs, training opportunities, personal interests, and ability tests.
Parental Influence: Any opinion, attitude, or action displayed by a parent to a child (other than direct tutoring) that shapes or molds the child’s attitudes, actions, and inaction is defined as parental influence.
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