FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CHOICE OF TEACHING AS A CAREER AMONG MALE STUDENTS OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

This study relates to issues of professional autonomy and identify professional autonomy in teaching is suggestive of total involvement of education experts. Professional associates in all matters related to the education of the people oen, people with little or no knowledge of professional training and competence are assigned positions of authority to dedicate how educational policies in Nigeria should be run. Factors influencing choice of teaching as a career, journal of educational research association vol. No. 1, University of Benin says teaching as a career is not seen as an entity but a loose confederation group of major components performing certain task oen with practically no coordination among professional members. At the moment, a male student of College of Education, Ekiadolor wants to take teaching as a career but there are factors influencing it. Many people assume instructional responsibility without ever having acquired basic professional training or training from any of the professional schools, among education students, many having not meditated seriously on their genuine reasons for wanting to become a teacher. Many education teachers view their professional preparation or teaching as a meal ticket or as stepping stone some students into teaching just because they feel they lack competence and intelligence to read lucrative course like medicine, law and engineering.

Teaching will only become a career preparation as last resort. Some education students have the attitudes and perception of teaching as a profession, as a dumping group for less intelligent people and they also see it as a stepping stone towards better occupation. This set of people lack dedication, respect for the value and objectives of teaching and this constitute a stumbling block in the channeling of ideas for authentic or genuine career development. Many of the teachers in Nigeria today and the education students in the career will not publicly declare that teachers making this lead to the factors influencing choice of teaching as a career identity among teacher among male students of College of Education Ekiadolor. An investigation into the factors that motivate people to have choice of teaching as a career will help to correct some of the erroneous view people are help to confirm or refute some of the criticism against teaching as a career in the decision of what career to choose, several motivating factors can be summed up as: 1. The employment situation in the country, that is a situation that many influence people to choose a job of which they do not have the natural inclination. 2. The second reason that may motivate people to choose a particular career is the nature of the job itself.

The job, which may give plenty of free time after the days work. 3. The remuneration given to the particular job attracts or discourages people to take up the job. According to Afe (2002) becoming a teacher is with obstacles and problems from the time deciding to become a teacher. There is a factor influencing teaching as a career, according to Awake (2002) summering the teacher’s job is a thankless job as far as income is concerned. His pay has always been below the standard minimum. The salary is so poor that it is hardly sufficiently bills. This includes his accommodation, feeding, medical and clothing and transportation.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

The objective was to have an insight into the factors influencing the choice of teaching as a career among male students of the College of Education Ekiadolor. The problems to be studied are poor salary, inadequate relevant text books, inadequate teaching aids and lack of guidance and counselling. I am attempted to suggest solutions to the problem, the following questions would therefore serve as a guide to the study of determine which factors influence choice of teaching as a career. 1. Does poor salary influence teaching as a career? 2. Does inadequate relevant textbooks influence teaching as a career? 3. Do inadequate teaching aids influence the choice of teaching as a career? 4. Does lack of guidance and counselling influence choice of teaching as a career? 5. Does student’s attitude influence the choice of teaching as a career?