FACTORS INFLUENCING CHOICE OF SCHOOL SUBJECTS AMONG JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

From the secondary school age, the adolescent are often faced with the problem of choosing subject that are suitable and relevant for the attainment of a dream career. This process of choice making leads the adolescent to select one form of subject or the other in which he or she is best suited. According to Okeke (1993) in pre-colonial Nigeria, the acquisition of skills did not require much specialized assistance because it was organized informally at home and in families, village square, and at moon light games. These purpose were dearly understand by adult citizens who impacted the skills such as the practical transmission of local customs, moral, religious and social values.

In modern age, the quest for knowledge and excellence has made the society more complex and as a result create the problem of career choice among youth just coming out from secondary school, quite often, the adolescent student choose subjects for which they have no interest or ability on. It is always a failure on the part of student which can lead to frustration and eventually leads to dropout. With this, choosing a suitable and interesting subject becomes a problem which he or she must in one time or the other faced in future. The eventually becomes not just the individual students problem but societal and government responsibility. Also, the choice of a subject is very crucial in the life of the students as it may affect every aspect of their lives. A right choice in subject making will always afford the students opportunity to actualize their potentials in their chosen future career. Jaiyeola (1997) of the opinion that our young one needs constant guidance in their choice of subject; this is because it is common to find students choosing subjects for which they have little or no aptitude or interest in only to the end up frustration treated in long run

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There have been a lot of research work carried out on this topic, but despite their findings and results, choice of school subject is still a common problem student’s face in school today. Therefore, this study tends to examine specific issue that serve as barriers to choice of secondary school subject

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

This research work is carried out to examine those factors influencing choice of school subject among secondary school students in Esan North Local Government area of Edo State as its main purpose are: 1. It aimed at bringing to the light various factors influencing choice of subject offered among secondary school students. 2. The researcher is also interested in finding out our counseling services by teacher affect decision on student’s choice of subject. 3. This study will also determine the relative influence of each factor that affects student’s choice in secondary school. 4. Finally, the researcher intends to find out how students.