INFLUENCE OF GENDER AND ENVIRONMENT ON STUDENTS’ VOCATIONAL CHOICE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ILORIN

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the influence Gender and Environment on students’ vocational choice in Secondary School in Ilorin.

Data were collected from two hundred randomly selected students through Influence Gender and Environment on Students Vocational Choice Questionnaire (FGAEOSVCQ). Data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentage and t-test.

The results indicated that there were no significant differences in the factors influence vocational choice of male and female, and students from graduate and non-graduate parents. However, significant differences were observed on the basis of religions and school size.

Based on the outcome of this findings it is recommended that parents should be adequately educated to allow their children to choose vocational career in accordance with their ability aptitudes and interest.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the study

People are blessed with abilities, personality, traits and other characteristics, Almost every individual at one point in time or another in his/her life makes a decision on the choice of life career. In democratic societies, man has freedom of choice relative to the kinds of word that are available.

It is important to note that choice and decision relating to career occur not only at the point of entry but throughout the life of the individual. The decision of life more importantly career decision or choice can be contorted at various stages of life.

This perhaps has reinforces that belief of Denga (1983) that the choice of a vocation is one of the most important and at the same time, most difficult decision in an individuals, life He opined further that work plays an important role in a person’s total life. This is because the individual social income. Life style, choice of friends and mental and physical well-being are all influence by the type of work/career he/she does.

In Nigeria, an increasingly complex and uncertain job market adds to the difficulty of career decision making. It is therefore the recognition of the prevailing situation that the vocational guidance and career counseling are being advocated for the school system of the country is also required to spell out in clear terms, the system in the country’s development plan at all levels of education and all tiers of government in line with dictates of such plans, there is always the needs to produce relevant manpower and vocational by the country educational curriculum. This is with a view to developing a realistic and effective weapons for the accomplishment of natural growth and development.

The critical nature of issues relating education and vocation is born not of the complex natural of education self education should be elaborated and should be geared towards making the individual realties of his environment.

In Nigeria, the seemingly complex system of education has brought with it a deliberate attempt to identify the occupation they could be appropriately elected for further training based on their infest and performance. This leaves the students with problem of choice of career among many vocations. These problems could be reduced with a good understanding of the factors that affects students choice of vocations and occupations as their career in the future.

Statement of the Problem

Many secondary school students face the problem of vocational choice. According to Adegbite (2003). Some of them just offered subjects without even knowing their relevance to future aspiration. He also explained that gender and environment of learning have great influence on children career choice. This is particularly because of cultural importance of the two variables in vocational choice. Some were forced by parents to choose without consideration to other relevant interest. This may create problem in later years. This is considered a problem which needs consideration. Thus, the study investigated Influence Gender and Environment on Students Vocational Choice in Ilorin  LGA Kwara State.