ABSTRACT
This project work is on pattern of
career aspiration among science students of selected public secondary
schools in Shomolu Local Government Education district area of Lagos
State.
A random sampling technique was used to
select some schools in Shomolu Local Education District to ensure true
validity of the study and the necessary data were collected and
analyzed.
A descriptive survey design was used,
the statistical method used was the Pearson product moment to determine
the pattern of career aspiration among senior secondary school students
of the selected schools based on their academic achievement and the type
of school (based on gender).
From the data obtained it was observed
that career aspiration of students towards popular profession was high
as the aspiration of their profession based on their gender and type of
school they attend in terms of gender was observed. It was observed
that boys/male aspires more of mechanical oriented profession as the
females aspires toward emotional and personal relationship oriented
profession.
Students academic achievement should be a
determinant of their career aspiration and not the popularity, social
respect and lucrativity of the profession however, gender should also
not be the determinant of career choice of students as observed in the
collected data rather, gender inequality should be exhibited in their
choice of career with this the type of school should not also be a
determinant of their career choice.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGES
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv-v
Abstract vi-vii
Contents viii-x
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study 1-5
1.2 Statement of the Study 5
1.3 Purpose of the Study 6
1.4 Significant of the study 6
1.5 Research Question 7
1.6 Delimitation 7-8
1.7 Definition of Terms 8-9
CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Concept and Definition of Career and Career Aspiration
2.3 Relationship between Academic Achievement and Career Aspiration
2.4 Factors and Agencies Responsible
for Academic Achievement of Students and Career Aspiration (Home,
School, Religion, Gender etc)
2.5 Effect of Academic Achievement on students Career Choice.
CHAPTER THREE: Methodology
3.0 Introduction 31
3.1 Research Design 31
3.2 Population of the Study 31
3.3 Sample and Sampling Procedure 31-32
3.4 Instrumentation 32-34
3.5 Validity of Instrumentation 34
3.6 Administration of Questionnaires 34
3.7 Method of Data Analysis 34-35
CHAPTER FOUR: Results and Discussion
4.0 Introduction 36
4.1 Research Question 1 36-40
4.3 Research Question II 40-43
4.4 Research Question III 43-51
CHAPTER FIVE: Summary conclusion and Recommendation
5.1 Summary 52-53
5.2 Conclusion 54-55
5.3 Recommendation 55-56
References 57-62
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Educators and psychologist continue to
ponder on reasons why students are not doing so well in the science
subjects, many factors have been identified as the cause of this menace
both in developing and the developed countries with the major once being
cognitive and non cognitive. More attention is still required on these
factors so as to maintain and improve on the scientific and
technological state of the world, Nigeria inclusive.
Chemistry has been one of the core
science subjects in which a credit pass is required before a student can
be admitted into any tertiary institution for any science based
discipline. However statistics on students enrolment and achievement in
the west African senior secondary school examination (Source West
African Examination Council) have shown that despite the low rate of
students enrolment in science subjects for the examination, only few
percentage of them passes the subject particularly chemistry at a credit
level to qualify them to purse courses in the science, technology,
basic medical sciences and or agriculture at the tertiary level despite
the continuous clarion call for technological growth in the country.
Many reasons have been attributed to
this problem of students’ enrolment and achievement in science
(subjects) in West African and particularly in Nigeria. There has been
idea of students perceiving science subjects as being difficult (Obioha,
1987), this has led man students into avoiding science and consequently
into low enrolment and poor performance in the subjects.
Other factors identified include: career
aspiration misconception, attitudes and motivational traits, self
concept, confidence and control among others. Although, many of all the
factors are considered attitudinal, Educators and psychologist believes
that certain factors apart from the cognitive ones, are responsible for
different achievement in chemistry, part of which includes aspiration,
motivation, perception, intelligence, attitude, seriousness and purpose
of individual and personal characteristics of the learner (Abe 1995)
(Osokoga 1990).
Another school of thought believes that
personality and psychological factors are operative in academic
performance. Interest level of aspiration, study habit, self concept and
anxiety are some of the factors being identified based on this
consideration. However (Bakare, 1975) reported that forestation between
these personality factors and academic performance are found to range
between 1 and 3.
Gender difference has also been
identified as one of the major/key player in low enrolment and poor
performance in science subjects. Available data pointing to this on
Education in Nigeria (Longe and Adedeji, 2003) points to the fact that
female students tend to have more interest in areas of study regarded
as feminine and therefore shy away from scientific and technological
field. Also, male students are drifted towards outdoor and mechanical
activities. This difference could be attributed to the degree of
propensity to take risk by males than the females.
Female students negative attitude could
be attached to their believe that by myth, boys are better than them in
the science subjects (Adedeji and Longe 2003) also added that, some
communities believes that exposing girls to the world of science implies
immersing the girls in male environment. Males are found to prefer
risk-involving and hazardous occupation.
Generally, achievement as a measure of
school productivity is the concern of teachers, parents, students and
the policy makers. Inspite of government investment and incentives on
science and technology education, in pursuit of one of the stated goals
of science teaching, students still perform poorly and below expectation
in science courses and blames are placed on teachers and or school
administrators, not bearing in mind the students emotional,
psychological and personality characteristics.
The world is turning technological,
Nigeria like the rest of the world depends mostly on what science could
give. It is therefore of high necessity to probe into some of the
non-cognitive characteristics of students which is part of major
possible threat to success of science subjects, identify their relative
effect on core science subjects like chemistry achievement.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This study sought to determine the
patterns of career aspiration as it affects the academic achievement of
senior secondary school chemistry students.
1.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY
The main purpose of this study is to:
explain the possible influence of students’ career aspiration on their
academic achievement. Determine the relative popularity of different
career aspiration among students and determine relative patterns of
career aspiration among chemistry students based on (1) gender and (ii)
school type.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study tends to throw more light on
pattern of career aspiration among students offering chemistry at the
senior secondary school (Based on the school type and gender). Think of
specific significance of your research work to the students, parents,
society, stakeholders.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In a bid to explain the possible
influence of students career aspiration on their academic achievement,
the study sought to answer the following questions:-
- What is the correlation between career aspiration and academic achievement of students in chemistry?
- What is the pattern of career aspiration among students offering chemistry at senior secondary school?
- To what extend and how does gender and type of school affects the career choice of students?
1.6 DELIMINATION
The study will be descriptive and
correlational in nature. Samples that will be used for this study will
be limited to Somolu Local Government, where some number of schools will
be selected. A single sex school and a co-educational school (from the
same strata) will be selected. However, number of students will be
selected from the sampled school using a random sampling method this
will make the study a purposeful one. Parents of the selected students
will also be included as part of the samples to be used during the
course of the study as their contribution also count in the success of
the result of the study.
A career aspiration questionnaire and
parent career choice questionnaire for their children will be
administered so as to know their opinion of students and parents on
their career aspiration and choices independently. This will be
strictly limited to science student only.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Career: This is a job
or profession that one has been trained for, and which one usually do
for a long time or one under training intend to do latter in future.
Cognitive: The level of relating and or process if knowing, understanding and learning something.
Non-Cognitive: This is
the change in someone or situation that is not related to learning or
the physical attribute that changes outside learning
Educations: This
refers to people in charge of informing individuals or group of people
(School or outside schools) e.g parents, teachers, evaluators,
administrators etc, in order to bring out a desired result or change in
behaviour
Psychologist: These
are people who studies the way people’s mind work and their nature.
Their study ask the question why, when and how human being put up a
particular action or Behaviour.