Factors influencing career aspirations among students in public secondary schools in Ndhiwa Sub County in Homa Bay County, Kenya

Abstract

Career aspiration is a prerequisite for career choice since decision making on career starts with ambition. Many students’ complete secondary school without clearly developed career aspirations hence they fail to make right decision on courses to pursue for their career in tertiary level of education. Career guidance is offered in secondary schools to address aspiration challenges although most of them are not driven by evidence. Therefore, the study aimed at identifying intrinsic, extrinsic and interpersonal factors that influence career aspirations among students in public secondary schools in Ndhiwa Sub County. The study was guided by both the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and Social Learning Theory of Career Decision (SLTCD). Additionally, the study adopted mixed approach and convergent parallel mixed design. The study sampled 225 respondents; 211 form three students and 14 teachers from six schools to participate in the study. Purposive non- probability sampling techniques was used to sample teachers while simple random probability sampling techniques was used to sample form three students. Data was collected using questionnaires, focused group discussions and interviews. The validity and reliability of instruments for data collection was tested during pilot study. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS. 20.0 and the results presented in tables of frequencies and percentages while the qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Regression analysis was also used to further establish the extent to which revealed factors are related to students’ career aspirations. The study findings revealed the following as factors that influence students’ career aspirations: intrinsic factors were students’ interest, personality, knowledge and ability, and belief; the extrinsic factors were; employment opportunity, salary or payment, job security and professional prestige; and interpersonal factors were parents, teachers, siblings or relatives, peers or friends, and social responsibility or expectations. The study concluded that there are many intrinsic, extrinsic and interpersonal factors that influence career aspirations and attention should be paid to all of them in order to help students develop informed, relevant, and suitable career aspirations and choices. Therefore, many confusions, dissatisfactions and difficulties that students always face in making career choices or decisions to an extent of ending up with no clear career choice could be attributed to inadequate knowledge on the factors or paying little or no attention at all on the factors. The study made three recommendations; first, students should be well informed through guidance and counseling services to have accurate and adequate career information and to guide them in developing informed career aspirations and choices. Second, students’ career aspirations should be based mostly on factors rather than being compelled or forced by significant others such as parents, teachers, siblings or relatives or any other influential persons to aspire for a particular career; rather they should make their own informed independent choices. Third, students should consider all intrinsic, extrinsic and interpersonal factors in making career aspirations since no single factors is sufficient to influence or inform an appropriate career aspiration.