Determinants of career aspiration of senior high school students in the Tema Metropolis

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine some of the determinants of career aspiration of Senior High school students in the Tema Metropolis. The study explored the career aspirations of participants, the relationship between career aspirations and academic performance, and the effect of socioeconomic status, and family up-bring on career aspirations of senior high school students. The study adopted the explanatory sequential mixed method design. Stratified random sampling was used to sample 300 participants for the quantitative phase whilst purposive sampling was used to sample 12 participants from the 300 for the qualitative phase of the data collection. Questionnaire and semi structured interviews were used in data collection. Quantitative data was analysed using frequencies, percentages and correlation. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic approach. It emerged from the study that participants aspired for careers in accountancy, administration, artistic tasks, businessman, civil service, information communication technologist, economics, engineering, factory worker, farmer, historian, medicine and the like. The interview data confirmed these as the aspired careers of participants. Career aspirations of the participants were formed during childhood and crystallised into actual specific careers over time. There was an effect of socioeconomic status on participant’s career aspiration. The data indicated that participants were from diverse economical background with at least five siblings. There were some effects of family up-bring on the career aspirations of the participants. Family up-bring elements like family traditions and cultural beliefs, rewarding individual achievements, religion, values, beliefs and norms affected the participants career aspiration. There was a significant negative correlation between career aspiration and academic achievement. The data also revealed that the academic performance of a student influenced the aspired career. The Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Tema Educational Directorate and the head teachers of the sampled schools should organize career guidance and outreach programmes for their students on the various career types, entry requirement/qualifications and available institutions