ABSTRACT
This study aimed to assess what determines career choices in mathematics and science among secondary school students focusing on home environment, the quality of school, and the ways of teaching of mathematics and science related subjects in ten secondary schools in Akure metropolis of Ondo State. The design used was descriptive cross-sectional, whereby data was collected in a single place at a time. Questionnaires, interviews and observation-checklists were used to collect data from 160 respondents. The participants were clustered in the groups of students, teachers and parents, from each cluster, the sample was taken. The major findings revealed that although the majority of parents assist their female students in mathematics and science in doing their homework – thus encouraging them to do science and mathematics subjects, the home environments continue to follow the traditional gender roles that leave household duties to females hence impeding them from concentrating on school work. Furthermore, the findings revealed that quality of schools in promoting science and mathematics related subjects was poor due to lack of laboratories and laboratory supplies and inadequate number of qualified science and mathematics teachers. Conclusion: The desire of the female students to take up science and mathematics subjects and later related carriers has been very low and thus attracting the attention of the learned community to think on what is really going wrong on this and thus the respondents were able to give their views without any hesitation. The study recommended that the government and school managers should invest in constructing and equipping the laboratories to attract more female students to do science subjects.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Education is universally recognized as the answer to socio- economic problems of the world. Nations and individuals look up to education to provide a cure for poverty, ignorance, drought, excessive rainfall, mental deficiency, joblessness, bad government, poor communication system, hunger and inadequate shelter among other things. Every nation of the world aspires toward quality of life and social status. Career selection is one of many important choices students will make in determining future plans. This decision will impart them throughout their lives. The essence of who the student is will revolve around what the student want to do with their life- long work. The choice of career has been a serious problem among the secondary school students in Nigeria. No matter what ones age is, the choice of career or desire is an important question for everybody. A lot of student in secondary schools believe that their future is a glorious adventures in which they are bound to succeed. Many of them have the idea that they would be able to work in the public or private establishments as soon as they complete secondary school education. Some have planned to become lawyers, engineers, medical doctors, accountants and so on. Students in secondary schools like many other young adults are always worried about what they will do with their lives, the kind of adult they will become. They are concerned about early entry into the occupational world and finding productive and rewarding places in and out rapidly, fast changing societies where wages employment is unlikely to be available on a scale sufficient to absorb more than a small fraction of the young people when they do arrive at the labor market. How the young people of today meet the problems of tomorrow will depend upon the amount of success they make in planning for that tomorrow. Planning for tomorrow itself is primarily the responsibilities of the parents, teachers and school counselor. Students need general orientation into the world of work through the curriculum. The choice of career is a delicate issue that requires caution and serious considerations. The kind of career the youths pursue can affect their lives in many ways.
According to Bandura et al. (2001) the individual undertaking the process of career choice is influenced by the context in which they live in. This entails that career choice does not emanate only from individual, but is also a social phenomenon. Therefore to have the female student going into science, technology, engineering and mathematics is shaped by individual aptitude, but most importantly can be shaped by teachers who may take a role of counseling and to monitor her progress towards undertaking science related subjects and later lead her to science careers.
Carrier development normally starts in schools where students learn about their interests, abilities, values, and aspirations. These interests and abilities are developed through subjects and fields choice. In secondary schools – in particular, students explore subjects and field options, and develop educational and career plan that outlines the occupational preparation required to pursue their career choice (Pezry and Van Zandt, 2006)
Hence, Okafor (2012) cited that generally, the choice of a career is influenced by parents, friends and counsellors. Variations occur from one population to the other. In Kenya, every secondary school student (SSS) makes their career choice before sitting for West African Examination Council (WAEC). The result of this final examination determining who Joins University since admission into careers are determined by grades obtained from it. When these students graduate from the universities, some of them enter into occupations that are totally different from the ones they had chosen and training for.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The problem of career choice among secondary school students has generated a lot of questions and answers among scholars. The problem has been a delicate issue that has to be approached with caution. There is no clear process that secondary school students have used to make career choice. Rapidly developing her technological education, which has made the society more complex than it was in the past. The number of occupation has increased greatly and also there are many careers within one occupation. For instance, farming which was a simple occupation some years ago is now a very complex occupation within many careers to choose from, this research therefore will examine the determinants of mathematics and science career choices among secondary schools students.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objectives of this study is to find out the determinants of mathematics and science career choices among secondary schools students, specifically the study intends to:
1. Find out the determinants that influence career choice among secondary school students
2. Examine the effect of students learning outcome in mathematics and science on the choice of career among secondary school students.
3. Investigate the influence of gender in choice of career among secondary school students.
4. Find out the challenges students encounter in choosing career
1.4 Research Questions
1. What are the determinants that influence career choice among secondary school students?
2. Is there any effect of students learning outcome in mathematics and science on the choice of career among secondary school students?
3. What is the influence of gender in choice of career among secondary school students?
4. What are the challenges students encounter in choosing career?
1.5 Significance of the Study
Studying Mathematics and science subjects is necessary as the engineering and science industries are a vital element of the overall economy and as per international research which indicated that (75%) of the fastest growing occupations require science skills and knowledge Becker and Park, (2011). Therefore, this study will help in guiding the academia and act as an incentive for conducting further research in the field. This research will also bring in knowledge needed for the institutions concerned to start thinking on how to set strategies for increasing the female mathematics and science students in secondary schools through colleges and universities
1.6 Scope of the Study
This research work will be conducted in Ondo state, secondary schools in Akure the capital of Ondo state will be used in this research work.
1.7 Delimitation of the Study
Finance for the general research work will be a challenge during the course of study. Correspondents also might not be able to complete or willing to submit the questionnaires given to them.
However, it is believed that these constraints will be worked on by making the best use of the available materials and spending more than the necessary time in the research work. Therefore, it is strongly believed that despite these constraint, its effect on this research report will be minimal, thus, making the objective and significance of the study achievable.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Career choice: The broad opportunities that exist for lifelong vocations. These vocations are set out in a frame work of strategies moving towards personal goals.