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 the learners make different career choices including subject selection by the students that will match their individual interest, abilities, personalities etc. needed to their development.Career is an activity, profession  or occupation and others constituting a life style expressed in time, energy and activity (Oladele, 2002). It simply refers to a type work or way of life that an individual believes he or she is specially suited for.

It is a known fact that most young students have challenges of selecting subject at the secondary schools. The senior secondary education (SSS) represents the third stage in the current educational system known as 6-3-3-4. This system of education that was designed by the National Policy on Education exposes the learners to as many disciplines as possible in the junior secondary school (J.S.S.) and then allows them to make choices of subjects in the senior secondary school levels (SSS).

 Making choices from such array of options becomes a herculean task to the students. It is one of the many important choices students will make in determining their future plans and this decision will impact them throughout their lives. The choice determines satisfaction one expects to get from his work and the opportunities he has for promotion and advancement. Individual social status, income, life style, choice of friends, mental and physical health is influenced by the type of work he or she does. In other words a person’s vocational choice or preference plays an important role in his entire life. It has been observed by researchers that most student have insufficient information about different jobs, courses of study and other activities. They are thus unable to judge whether their choices are reasonable. Without detailed and adequate information about occupations, students many jump blindly into jobs to become frustrated and unhappy later in life and perhaps at such times when a retreat would no longer be easy or possible (Omeje, 2007).

In terms of career and subjects selection, Okeke (2000) posits that parents and guardians have a significant effect on their children, that parents’ characteristics played a vital role in students’ choice of technical subjects. Parents have a crucial task of preparing their children for education. In their task of career guidance, Mabunda (2002) stated that parents have a greater influence on the child’s development and future career choices. On the other hand, parent might be forced to compel their adolescents children to choose career to please them. Thus it is upon the premise that this study is set to examine parental influence on career choice of adolescence.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Adolescent students are expected to choose their careers in the senior secondary school. More often than not they 8 rush to their parents for guidance as to which subject and career to choose. In some other cases, they resort to careers that they heard of even when they do not have the potentials for such careers. Parents and Guardians are bequeathed by the virtue of their authority to train, direct and guide their children or wards in other to obtain or acquire religious, psychological, social, moral and educational values.The gap here is: How possible would this injunction be if the students are compelled by their parents to take up subjects that will direct their interests towards their parents aspirations, to the detriment of the children’s interest in their own desired field. Do parents today give adequate interest and attention to the aptitudes, mental capabilities, interest, resources and limitations of their children or wards before suggestive impressions are made on their children? This impression by parents may influence the child positively if the child can adapt to it, but adversely when such a child has different desires or goals as his priority. Some parents go by this injunction to influence their children choice of subject in secondary schools. Some threaten not to be involved in the educational pursuit of their children or wards if their choice of subject does not meet up with their personal interests. Consequently such students may be negatively or positively affected by this. Thus it is against the backdrop that this study seek to examine parental influence on career choice of a child.

1.3 Objective of the study

The main focus of this study is to examine parental influence on career choice of a child. Specifically the study seeks to:

1. To examine the extent parental occupational preference influence students’ subject selections in secondary school.

2. To determine the extent parental values influence students’ subject selections in secondary school.

3. To determine how parental education influence students’ selections in secondary school.

4. To determine the extent parental influence on subject selection predict the academic performance of students in secondary school.

1.4 Research questions

1.     To what extent does parental occupational preference influence students’ subject selections in secondary school?

2.     To what extent does parental values influence students’ subject selections in secondary school?

3.     How does parental education influence students’ selections in secondary school?

4.     To what extent does parental influence on subject selection predict the academic performance of students in secondary school.

1.5 Significance of the study

The findings of the study will be useful to students, teachers, parents, government and guidance counselors.This study will specifically be of importance to students in making adequate choice of a life career.it will provide an awareness about fringe benefits, advancement/improvement opportunities which the adolescents required for effective and realistic career decision.Findings of this study will help the teachers create class projects that require students to research a selected occupation and apply the course content to that particular occupation. This will enable the teachers to sort and place students according to their subject inclinations and occupational class. This will provide better orientation, facilitate learning and growth, and enhance career decision than multiple interest groups. Moreover, the findings of this study will be of immense benefit to parents. It will help to guide and counsel parents on matters relating to the choice of vocation for their children and wards. The study will serve as a reference material for student and researchers who seeks to conduct futher research on related field of study

1.6 Scope of the study

The scope of the study borders on parental influence on career choice of their child. The study is however delimited to Anambra State.

1.7 Limitation of the study

During the course of this research, the following factors are proposed to be a limitation.

Financial constraints: Financial constraints tend to impede the researcher's efficiency in locating relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview).

Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research is reduced.

1.8 Definition of term

Career Choice: Career choice is the selection of a vocation, usually on the basis of such factors as parental guidance, vocational guidance,identification with admired figures, trial or part-time jobs, training opportunities, personal interests, and ability tests.

Parental Influence: Parental influence is defined as any opinion, attitude, or action exhibited by a parent to a child  (other than direct tutoring) that somehow shapes or molds the child's  attitudes, actions and inaction.