CHAPTER 1: Introduction
Career selection is one of many
important choices students make in determining future plans. Career
choice is one of the major areas of concern for young people nearing the
end of their schooling. It is important to both parents and their
children because this decision will impact them throughout their lives.
Every student, at one time or the other, is faced with the challenge of
making a choice of career. We must decide what manner of men we wish to
be and what calling in life we would follow and this is the most
difficult problem in the world”. Individual's vocation or
career is one of the most important aspects of human endeavor because it
determines a lot of things in human existence. It could either make or
mar one's joy and happiness. He further contended that true joy,
happiness and satisfaction are linked to proper choice of profession. He
also posited that emotional and marital stability could be enhanced by
the type of occupation one engages in. In Nigeria, many youths make
wrong career choices due to ignorance, inexperience, peer pressure,
wrong modeling, advice from friends, parents and teachers, or as a
result of the prestige attached to certain jobs without adequate
vocational guidance and career counseling. Consequently, many of them
are unsuited for their careers, as they usually find themselves in jobs
that do not satisfy their value needs. They are usually unable to
contribute meaningfully to the society, and they ultimately become
liabilities to the nation. The essence of who the student is will
revolve around what the student wants to do with his or her life-long
work. Work is one of our greatest blessings and that everyone should
have an honest occupation. They also posited that every student carries
the unique history of their past and this determines how they view the
world. That history created in part by the student’s environment,
personality, and opportunity, will determine how students make career
choices. It then follows that how the students perceive their
environment, personality, and opportunity will also determine the career
choices they make. All these constitute what is referred to as student
support system. The components of the student support system include
parents, relatives, siblings, peers, teachers and counselors. Regarding
the environment of a student, the home, peer group and the school are
very significant. The Teacher Characteristics and Students’ Choice of
Teaching
1.1 Background of the Study
Nobody can ignore the crucial role of
teachers they play to change the attitudes of the society to make it a
highly valued society in the world. No education system can flourish
without good teachers and good teachers can be attracted towards
teaching through motivation. Motivation is of two types intrinsic and
extrinsic Darling (1999, p.45). The study attempts to find out most
effective factors in attracting teachers towards teaching. By
considering the importance of teachers many action plans and attractive
packages were introduced in Europe, Australia and Asia to motivate
teachers in teaching. Darling (1999, p.45) argued that poor salary
scales, lack of save environment, inadequate resources and inflexible
environment demotivate teachers all over the world. On the other hand
competitive salary, conducive institutional environment, social respect,
high status play as most motivating factors to encourage teachers for
teaching profession. Book and Freeman (1992, p.27) also considered some
other important reasons to choose teaching like intrinsic, extrinsic and
altruistic motivation. All these three types of motivation sometimes
overlap in defining features; it depends on the nature of question for
what any type is used. For example the intention in working with
students has come the umbrellas of intrinsic and sometimes under the
bridge of altruistic form in various studies (Battle 1965, p.209). Book
and Freeman (1985, p.27) identified most significant motivational
reasons in entering teaching are job security, job benefits, suitability
with family commitments, social participation and love to with
students. The study therefore seeks to investigate a study of motivation
on the choice of teaching as a profession in local government in
Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Many studies have investigated factors
that influence choice of teaching as a profession among teachers and
students alike. Extrinsic (matters such as remuneration and other
benefits), intrinsic (the enjoyment of teaching and the school
environment) and altruistic (making a difference to young lives) motives
have been investigated (Goh Edo Journal of Counseling Vol. 4, Nos.
1& 2, 2011 119 & Atputhasamy, 2001). Any strategic plan to
address the shortage of qualified and well trained teachers will have to
include the promotion among learners of a positive perception of the
teaching profession. The promotion of teaching, however, will depend
largely on how successfully such a campaign analyses and responds to the
existing opinions among learners and whether it adequately addresses
both positive and negative perceptions of teacher characteristics and
teaching as a career among them
Many factors have been discovered to
have influence on students’ career choices. For instance, factors such
as parental pressure or influence, peer influence, social prestige
associated with a job, gender role, teachers’ motivation, influence of
other siblings, religious affiliation, course of study, job prospects,
and so on, have been identified. There is a dearth of literature
evidence showing influence of teacher characteristics on students’
career decision making. It is not unlikely that some students would
decide to choose a particular career such as medicine or law just
because of the personalities or physical characteristics of these
professionals. Therefore the problem confronting this research is to
investigate a study of motivation on the choice of teaching as a
profession in local government in Nigeria.
1.3 Objective of the Study
1 To determine the nature of motivation on the choice of teaching as a profession.
2 To determine the nature of teaching as a profession.
1.4 Research Questions
1 What is the nature of teaching as a profession?
2 What is the nature of motivation on the choice of teaching as a profession in local government in Nigeria?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study shall provide a framework of
communication guidelines for the formulation of motivational policies
for the promotion of the teaching profession through increased choices
of enrollment and decision for the teaching profession as a career.
1.6 Statement of Hypothesis
1 Ho The level of choice of the teaching profession in local government in Nigeria is low
Hi The level of choice of the teaching profession in local government in Nigeria is high
2 Ho Motivation in the Teaching profession is low
Hi Motivation in the Teaching profession is high
3 Ho The impact of motivation on the choice of teaching as a profession in local government in Nigeria is low
Hi The impact of motivation on the choice of teaching as a profession in local government in Nigeria is high
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study is focused on the appraisal
of a study of motivation on the choice of teaching as a profession in
local government in Nigeria.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Motivation - I t is the act of
encouraging people to do something or act in a particular way by giving
them gifts, incentives or rewards. In this context it refers to giving
teachers’ gifts, promotions and allowing them to participate in the
administration of the school.
Impact – I means to give a quality to something.
Performance – It is the process or manna of performing duties, outstanding action or achievement.
Secondary schools – It refers to institutions for educating children.
Teachers – It refers to people who teach especially in a school.