CAREER CHOICES

The study investigated the parental influence on career choices of public senior secondary school students in Ovia local government area of Edo State. To achieve the purpose of this study, four research questions were raised and examined. The descriptive survey research method was adopted for the study The sample size for the study was made up of two hundred (200) students selected from 14 public secondary school in Ovia local government area of Edo State. The questionnaire titled Parent Influence on Career Choices of Public Senior Secondary School Students in Ovia local government area of Edo State, was the instrument for the data collection. An analysis of data was done using mean and standard deviation. The findings provide more evidence that there is significant influence of parents’ level of education on student’s career choice, there is also significant influence of parents’ socio-economic status and occupational background on the career choice of students. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made and it was concluded that parents should educate their children on how to make a career choice and not impose on them their own preferred career choice.

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the career choices among senior secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area of Edo state. Five research questions were raised to guide the research. A descriptive survey research design which involves collection of data through the use of questionnaire was adopted to solicit
information from respondents. The population this study consists of the five thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight (5788) in the twelve (12) public senior secondary schools. The sample size of the study is one hundred and twenty (120) students which makes up 2.1% of the population size. A simple random sampling technique was used to used to select sample for study. Simple percentage and frequency count was used to analyse the responses of the respondents. The findings of the research revealed that parental influence has a significant impact on the career choices of students. A student's choice of career can be affected by the peer group of such a student. Gender has no significant relationship with the choice of career of students. The age of the students have no impact on the career choice of senior secondary school students. There is a significant relationship between the students career choice and academic performance. It was recommended that parents should enlighten their children on different
career choice at a tender age. Guidance and counseling services should be made available in secondary schools to guide the students. Finally, students should ensure they have proper information about their intended career choice and such choice should be born out of passion and ambition