Factors influencing career aspirations among standard eight pupils in Kasarani zone Nairobi Province
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Date
2012-02-08
Authors
Muthee, J. M.
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors influencing career aspirations among standard eight pupils in Kasarani Zone of Nairobi Province. This is an important and worthy area to study because choice of course at this stage will influence the future of pupils and determine the kind of jobs they will find in future, plus the degree of satisfaction in their jobs. Information about various occupational possibilities is important. Children at this point also need to be helped to develop realistic self concept. They should be helped in preparing and aspiring to enter and progress in careers of their choice. At this stage they need to be informed about various job openings available, qualifications required, and possibilities involved. Also the nature of work so that they can make decisions and possibilities involved. Also the nature of work so that they can make decisions and have clear occupational goals. Vocational guidance at an early age can help pupils to minimise mis match between education and employment. It can also help to bring efficient use of labour force. Every year, colleges and universities graduate thousands of hopeful students who despite their certificate are virtually unemployable. (Mutie and Ndambuki 1999) Argues that employees often complain that many applications come in response to a single vacancy and 80% have no relevance to the job specification. Few students pursue the education with a clear idea about the kind of work they like to do. Many employed workers are ill suited for their jobs. This leads to higher rate of labour placement or retention of inefficient workers. This is a waste of resources which vocational guidance facility can reduce.
Our primary school children need to be guided to take up courses and careers suited to their needs, interests and aptitudes. This can make them get prepared to become efficient workers in future. This can also lead individuals to achieve optimum social development and hence national development can be realised finally. Vocational guidance needs to be made regular and a continuous activity in our primary schools.
A total of 136 pupils and sixteen teachers participated in the study. Four primary schools formed the sample. Two private academies and two public primary schools. From these schools 120 standard eight pupils and sixteen teachers handling standard eight classes were randomly selected. Nairobi was chosen as a location of the study because of its cosmopolitan nature, it has easy access to a variety of schools and ministry of education offices. It has also all types of exposures that can facilitate pupils to aspire for various careers as opposed to a rural setting. Questionnaires were used to collect data from both students and teachers. The data analysed and reported by use of tables, frequency distribution and graphs. Social science (SPSS) was used in analysing the data further. The reliability of the instrument was established by test re-test method.
The findings of the study revealed that gender of the pupil and family social economic status had the most significant influence on pupils' career aspirations.
Other facilities like, school type, parental level of education, pupils place of residence, and parent occupational personality orientation had little influence on pupils' career aspirations. The study also revealed that the best methods of passing career information to pupils in primary school is that of mass, media that is both electric and print media. Also teachers as they teach can effectively pass on career information. The study may be used to make reforms in primary school curriculum that is help in inclusion of vocational guidance in their syllabus.
Description
Department of Educational Psychology, 71p. The HF 5382.5.K4M87 2004
Keywords
Vocational guidance--Kenya--Nairobi Province--Kasarani