THE PLACE OF WAEC GRADES IN DETERMINING THE CHOICE OF COURSE FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Parents are expected to have a significant influence on the career choices of their children. Many parents realize this, but only act when children are about to make their professional decision, usually in upper secondary school, as most other children are left alone without proper guidance. It is common to hear a child say "I want to be a doctor" or "I want to study architecture when I grow up", some children also handle materials such as empty cardboard, cans or paper to build houses. toys, cars, planes, etc. Some have sports skills. Parents have a duty to support, guide, motivate and challenge their children to achieve their goal, which could help them in their career choices. Young (2008) and Dauda (2011) found that parents' failure or success in encouraging their children's career choices is influenced by several factors, including: WAEC ratings.

The process of career choice is essentially that of developing and implementing the notion of professional self. Children are full of emotional needs, which requires a lot of love from parents. Experiencing the love and attention of parents gives children special security and immunity that drives them to creativity and career exploration, thus enabling them to brag about their career choices. Career choice provides a person, often a student, with an approach to choosing a career or subject to be undertaken in the future, which facilitates career choice.

Career choice is the choice or choice of a career in which a person has the potential to enter (Kolo 1999). In addition, he postulated three conditions necessary for an election to take place; the offer of choice, which consists of having two or more careers to choose from; second, the incentive to choose, which indicates that the individual must be motivated to choose; and third, the freedom to choose Without being limited. All individuals need to think carefully about their skills, interests and abilities in their career choices. Those who have failed are involved in occupations for which they are poorly equipped. Unfortunately, some parents put pressure on children to choose a career they love (parents), regardless of their abilities and interests. Parents play a crucial role in the early development process of the child. Through their efforts, the child can be helped to develop the appropriate behaviors, attitudes, values ​​and skills that could be of great help in choosing a career. It is important for parents to know that by supporting and affirming a child's ability to succeed, they may have more influence than a teen's peer group in career choice. Many people find themselves in the wrong career choice. A happy life often depends on choosing an appropriate career. If people can enroll in the type of work that suits them, it becomes possible for them to work happily at full capacity. In the same vein, Dauda (2011) stated that his success or failure in the professional election had profound repercussions not only on the lives of individuals, but also on the society he was to serve.

Parents play an important role in children's career choices. It is important to take into account the unconscious intention of parents in terms of gender influence on their career choice. At the same time, Dauda (2011) found that parents reported differences in how they helped their sons and daughters choose their careers. Parents show more interest; Provide more encouragement and challenges to their children compared to their daughters. The present study found that in some areas of Kaduna State, such as Zaria and Giwa, some courses or careers are related to the male child; for example, engineering, architecture and military works. Therefore, parents or society do not allow or discourage girls from choosing these careers because they are reserved for men.

Parents influence the careers of their children by reinforcing or discouraging certain behaviors that may encourage or discourage certain interests, talents or abilities. This study placed greater emphasis on the influence of WAEC grades in the career choice of students in high schools in Kaduna State.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In Nigeria today, many parents have generated many problems such as: low school performance, indecision, confusion and over-dependence on parents in their career choices. This is because most parents do not mind watching, encouraging and supporting the abilities, talents, initiatives and abilities of their children. rather, they dictate the career that their children should choose for a variety of reasons, including: Ignorance, good pay, good service, and respect by members of society for professionals.

The study examined daily interactions with students, co-workers and parents. As a teacher at the Zaria government high school, many students complained that their parents forced them to choose science subjects because of their prestige. Some students complained that they were very good at drawing and carving, but their parents insisted they be lawyers or doctors. Some students also complained about having ambitions for military jobs and engineering, but their parents discouraged them because these professions are reserved for men. In addition, Atokola (2014) reported that a grandmother had shouted after her granddaughter because she wanted to be a teacher while her grandmother wanted her to be a doctor. As a result, students have no career interest and may not have a credible performance in the classroom and even in the workplace, which is a setback for the development of capacity building in the workplace. society and the nation in general.

Similarly, the researcher who was then a guidance and orientation teacher (2009-2012) at Dakace Government High School, Zaria, observed that after leading the high school

Three students (JSS3) on the professional opportunities of different professionals, most students did not decide their choice of subjects at the first secondary school (SS1), some were confused, others depended on their parents to choose the career, while only a few could choose their subjects with confidence. This shows that most students do not have a career of their choice, which indicates a bad career choice. This prompted the study to determine whether or not academic achievement has an influence on the career choice of high school students.

In addition, Sanusi (2014), in charge of guidance and counseling in the Zaria Teaching Zone, reported that many parents rejected the placement of their children in art and commerce classes, despite because their abilities had been tested from a school point of view. and it was discovered that they were suitable for art and commerce classes. Given the challenges and issues mentioned above, the researcher was motivated to assess the influence of WAEC qualifications on the career choice of high school students in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The general objective of this study was to determine the influence of WAEC grades on career choice of senior secondary school students in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

The specific objectives are to assess:

1. The influence of school performance on career choice of senior secondary school students in Kaduna state.

2. The effect of WAEC grades on motivating students to further their studies into higher institutions.

3. Other factors that determine the choice of study of secondary school students.

4. The influence of gender differences (male or female) on career choice of senior secondary school students in Kaduna state.

3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

   1. What is the influence of school performance on career choice of senior secondary school students in Kaduna state?

   2. What is the effect of WAEC grades on motivating students to further their studies into higher institutions?

   3. What are the other factors that determine the choice of study of secondary school students?

   4. What is the influence of gender differences (male or female) on career choice of senior secondary school students in Kaduna state?

3. RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following null hypotheses were formulated and tested at a 0.05 level of significance:

1. School performance has no significant influence on career choice of senior secondary school students in Kaduna state.

2. WAEC grades has no significant influence on career choice of senior secondary school students in Kaduna state.

3. Gender difference (male or female) has no significant influence on career choice of senior secondary school students in Kaduna state.

3. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The result of this study should be meaningful for parents, children, home economics educators, school counselors, teachers, students, researchers, society members and the government. The following analyzes show how everyone could benefit from it:

The study will help parents identify specific academic achievement that will train individuals who are fully confident in selecting subjects and choosing a career that can lead to a happy life in the future. The result will benefit parents. seminars, workshops and media. The study will benefit children by improving good relationships between parents and children by encouraging follow-up and supporting their career aspirations, leading to a good career choice. This goal could be achieved through seminars, lighting campaigns, youth forums and media.

The results of the study could benefit home economics educators, school counselors and teachers to enable them to guide parents, students and society about the importance of observing abilities, skills and and the talents of the child in the choice of his children. the race instead of imposing a career, through a symposium, a seminar, a PTA meeting and workshops.

(Government) decision-makers, particularly in the education sector, will benefit from studies in policy-making related to students who are preparing much better for their WAEC exams and other academic activities by through seminars, workshops, conferences and media. This research will add to the literacy available to students.

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