Impact Of Vocational Guidance On Career Choice Of Secondary Students
(A Case Study Of Enugu North)
Vocational guidance plays a crucial role in shaping the career choices of secondary students by providing them with valuable insights, direction, and resources to make informed decisions. Through personalized counseling, aptitude assessments, and exposure to various career paths, vocational guidance empowers students to explore their interests, skills, and aspirations. This process enhances self-awareness and helps students align their academic pursuits with their career goals, fostering a sense of purpose and direction. Additionally, vocational guidance facilitates the exploration of diverse career options, including vocational trades, technical fields, and traditional professions, enabling students to make choices that resonate with their individual talents and preferences. By promoting early career exploration and informed decision-making, vocational guidance equips secondary students with the confidence and clarity needed to embark on a fulfilling career path.
The study investigated the extent of the impact of vocational guidance on career guidance on career guidance on career choice of secondary school students in Enugu North Local Government Area. One thousand students were randomly chosen out of the population of the students. Questionnaire was used to obtain information from one respondent. Oral interview was used to elicit primary information from the guidance counselor in the ten schools in Enugu North local Government Area. The investigation reveled that to a great extent vocational guidance leads to adequate career choice among school leavers, student do to a grate extent rely on vocational guidance can reduce unemployment among school leavers to a very grate extent, vocational guidance experience help students to great extent to choose better career and that vocational guidance influence career choice to a great extent.
Title Page
Approval Page
Certification Page
Acknowledgement
Dedication
Table of contents
List of table
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE
(INTRODUCTION)
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the problem
1.3 Purpose of the study
1.4 Research question
1.5 Delimitation of the study
1.6 Research questions
CHAPTER TWO:
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Need for vocational guidance in school
2.2 The extent of the impact of the vocational
Guidance on career choice of the secondary school students.
2.3 utilization of vocational guidance by secondary school students
2.4 The extent of the impact of vocational guidance on Employment opportunities
2.5 Summary
CHAPTER THREE:
RESEARCH METHOD
3.1 research design
3.2 Area of study
3.3 population of the study
3.4 Sample and sampling techniques
3.5 Instrument for data collection
3.6 Validation of the instrument
3.7 Reliability of the instrument
3.8 Method of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR:
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Research Question 1
4.2 Research Question 2
4.3 Research Question 3
4.3 Research Question 4
4.5 Research Question 5
CHAPTER FIVE:
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Discussion of the finding
5.2 Implication of the finding
5.3 Summary
5.4 Conclusion
5.5 Recommendation
5.6 Limitation of the study
5.7 Suggestion for further study
REFERENCE
APPENDIX
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Literally guidance is as old as man, all through the ages human being have for one reason considered to have known how to render such a service.
According to Pearson (1908), the term vocational guidance should be referred to the process of assisting people to choose a vocation for attainment of efficiency and success. The definition was how ever amplified in 1924 by the National vocational Guidance Association (NVGA) whose version states that vocational guidance is the giving of information, experience and advance in regards to choosing an occupation, preparing for it and entering into it and progressing in it.
Vocational guidance in Nigeria stated formally in 1959 at saint Theresa’s College oke-Ado in Ibandan by some reverenced sister out of sympathy and concern for the product of their school (Iwuama 1991). They felt that this secondary school leavers would have problem in seeking for admission for further studies, looking for employment in the society after leaving school. They invited resource person from various fields of work. They (resource person) then advised the sister on how to place sixty of their out going students of that year on various jobs. Through vocational guidance, there are innate aptitudes and interest for a job that are needed to be known before picking up a job.
Supper (1857) pointed out that it is one process of helping a person to develop and accept an integrated picture of himself and his role in the world of work, to test this concept into reality with satisfaction to himself and benefits to the society.
Danga (1986), also supported this simply by indicating that vocational guidance in school is concerned with assisting students to make realistic and appropriate vocational decision. Super and crities (1962) defined vocational guidance as the process of helping the individual to ascertain, accept and understand and apply the relevant facts about the world which are ascertained through exploratory activities
Vocational guidance assumes that some factors influence the student choice of career. As Napier (1972) comments, vocational guidance is the process by which all the various factors affecting individual occupational choice are sorted out, weighted and brought in focus and by which the young person helped to make his own potentials for them.
Since the aim and objective of this study is to sing out the extent of the impact of vocational guidance on career choice of secondary school students, we can not over look the various authors
Firstly, supper (1961) and Nuloye (1990), pointed out that lovers the sequence of positions or jobs or occupation in the lives of individuals. Denga (1986) also defined the world career as the total series of roles and work experience a person occupies through out his life time. Bear and Racber (1964) supported Denga that career is the total problem of jobs held during a worker’s lifetime. This means that when we talk about ones career, we mean the totality of varied and accumulated experience preceding an individual engagement in specific job or occupation. Achebe (1983) and Ipaya (1986) stated that career is a general work description that often includes, vocation, profession and even occupation.
Vocational guidance aid choice. One of the crucial tasks of the Nigeria guidance counselors in to positively influence the vocational behavour of different clients. According to Wrenn (1963) vocation means commitment, a sense of purpose for the total activity of ones life and the career choice is part of this larger vocational purpose for the total activity of ones life and the career choice is part of this larger vocational purpose. There has been growing interest in the interrelationship between occupational aspiration and career choice.
Bojuwoye (1086) agrees that many Nigeria students find it difficult to choose subject combination required for different occupations. Consequently, he submits that teachers in school need the services offered in vocational guidance to enable them collect analysis, interpret and present to students.
Vocational guidance in school will also help parents have a better perspective about childr3en in relation to career and employment forces in locality. One of the objectives of vocational guidance is to assist students develop and execute career plans which may help them in achieving their career goal. Taking appropriate course at the secondary level to qualify them for particular occupation.
Majority of the students on leaving secondary school may not have had the opportunity of vocational guidance and this may affect their choice of career. The study is geared towards investigating the extent of the impact of vocational guidance on career choice of secondary school students and effect vocational guidance will help in solving unemployment problem in Nigeria.
Statement if the problem
The need for vocational guidance for career choice among secondary school leavers, inability of student career choice decision among students, incompetent of vocational guidance in school and negative influence of vocational guidance students
Purpose of the study
The main purpose of this study is identify the extent to which vocational guidance impacts on the career choice of secondary school students specifically the study sought:
I. To find out the extent to which vocational guidance provides adequate career choice among school leavers.
II. To find out the extent to which students rely on vocational guidance of their choice of career.
III. To find out the extent to which vocational guidance can reduce the level of unemployment among school leaver.
IV. To find out the extent to which students who had vocational guidance experience choose better career.
V. To find out the extent to which vocational guidance influence career choice among school leaver.
Significance of the Study
The study owes the significance to three groups of people.
Firstly, the secondary school student who are about to leave the school, majority of them after the junior secondary certificate leave the school to find a vocation. The SS III students are made to know their aptitudes, interest and capability before they can pick up career.
Secondary, the economy of Nigeria will improve compared to developed countries like united state of America (USA) where before one takes a job, one must have had the previous knowledge of what is expected of him in that job. Thus it will help to minimize the rate of unemployment, which Nigeria is presently facing.
Finally, it will help vocational guidance counselors to acquire insight into the several factors that influence career decision so that they can incorporate them into their vocational counseling.
Delimitation of the study
This study was limited to identify the extent of the impact of vocational guidance on career choice of secondary school students in Enugu North Local Government Area.
Research Questions
The study was guided by the following research question:
1. To what extent does vocational guidance lead to adequate career choice among school leaver?
2. To what extent do student rely on the vocational guidance for their career choice?
3. To what extent can vocational guidance reduce the level of unemployment among school leaver?
4. To what extent can vocational guidance experience help student to choose better career?
5. To what extent does vocational guidance influence career choice?
Impact Of Vocational Guidance On Career Choice Of Secondary Students:
Vocational guidance plays a significant role in shaping the career choices of secondary students. It has a profound impact on their future aspirations, academic decisions, and overall well-being. Here are some of the key ways in which vocational guidance influences the career choices of secondary students:
- Self-Discovery: Vocational guidance helps students better understand themselves, their interests, strengths, weaknesses, values, and personality traits. This self-awareness is crucial for making informed career choices.
- Exposure to Options: It exposes students to a wide range of career options they might not have been aware of otherwise. This exposure helps them explore diverse fields and industries.
- Aligning Interests and Skills: Guidance counselors and vocational programs assist students in aligning their interests and skills with potential careers. This alignment is essential for job satisfaction and success.
- Setting Realistic Goals: Vocational guidance helps students set realistic career goals based on their abilities and market demands. This prevents setting overly ambitious or unattainable goals.
- Academic Planning: It aids in academic planning by suggesting relevant courses and educational pathways that lead to desired careers. Students can choose subjects and majors that align with their career interests.
- Building Confidence: When students have a clear understanding of their career goals and the steps needed to achieve them, it boosts their confidence and motivation to succeed academically.
- Reducing Anxiety: Career-related anxiety is common among students. Vocational guidance provides a structured approach to career decision-making, reducing anxiety by providing clarity.
- Economic Considerations: It helps students consider the economic aspects of their career choices, such as salary potential, job stability, and financial security.
- Parental Involvement: Guidance programs often involve parents, helping them understand their child’s career aspirations and providing support in the decision-making process.
- Exploring Non-Traditional Fields: Vocational guidance can encourage students to explore non-traditional or gender-neutral career paths, reducing stereotypes and promoting diversity in various industries.
- Adaptation to Labor Market Trends: Guidance counselors often keep up with labor market trends, ensuring that students are aware of emerging careers and industries.
- Preventing Skill Gaps: By guiding students towards fields with high demand, vocational guidance can help prevent skill shortages and mismatches in the job market.
- Lifelong Learning: It instills the value of lifelong learning and skill development, as students understand that their career paths may evolve over time.
- Better Decision-Making: Informed career decisions made during secondary school can lead to more successful and satisfying careers in adulthood, reducing the likelihood of job dissatisfaction and career changes later in life.
- Community Engagement: Some vocational guidance programs involve community engagement and internships, allowing students to gain practical experience and build networks in their chosen fields.
In summary, vocational guidance in secondary schools has a profound and lasting impact on students’ career choices. It equips them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to make informed decisions about their future careers, ultimately leading to greater satisfaction and success in the workforce.