CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. Background to the Study

In the Nigerian case vocational guidance started formally in 1959 at St. Theresa’s college Oke-Ado in Ibadan by some reverend sisters out of sympathy for the products of their school. They felt that these secondary school leavers would have problems in seeking for admission for further studies, looking for employment and adjusting to the hard conditions of the society after leaving school. They then invited some resource persons on various fields on the world of work and personal adjustment in the society. In Nigeria, students lack adequate occupational information before they enter into occupations. In some cases, the students concern themselves with reading up courses in the schools without due regard to the marketability and employability of the graduates in the field. Career choice is not one that is made abruptly. It is a continuous process. Career is a series of job that a person has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibilities as time passes (Okonkwo, 2011). According to Alutu (2001), career development and choice should be initiated as early as the nursery school years through the primary, secondary and to the tertiary school level. Ones career choice is mostly influenced by parents, friends, relatives, teachers, printed information, etc.

Guidance counsellors in Nigerian secondary schools to a good extent have done a great work in reducing the risk of wrong career choice taking by students; this they have achieved through; organizing career conferences, career day in secondary schools field trip, display of vital information about career opportunities and available higher institutions on bulletin boards; individual and group guidance has been employed to ensure thorough implementation of vocational guidance. Splaver (2007) went on to say “it is important for you to have a good understanding of yourself and your personality, if you are to make intelligent career plans”.

In particular, Nigeria like many other developing countries is faced with the problem of inability of her educators to relate education to employment opportunities; Okoye (2000). This is apparently in vogue in the nation’s secondary schools where many teachers are said to be incapable of assisting the students to perceive a vivid picture of the world of work. Olayinka (2001) opines that obtaining good grades in examination to acquire certificate either for admission into higher institutions or obtain good employment is the main goal of education to many people; rather than acquisition of knowledge and skills through studying .

Investigating and better understanding the numerous factors that contribute to career choice is a topic of recurring interest in our schools today. To guide students in their career decision making, sociodemographic factors play a central role in this lifelong process (Pilot & Regis, 2012). Johnson (2008) defined career as one’s lifework in order words, career is ones profession which includes a number of occupation, vocations or jobs one person engage in during his or her working life. Career is the course of events that constitute a life, the sequence of occupations and other life roles which combine express ones commitment to work in his or her total pattern of self development. Parents’ educational and occupational background may affect student’s choice of career because some students may contemplate on whether to continue with their parent’s occupation or not. What the students see in the television also may affect their career choice some careers demand that you have the personality to match the qualities of the occupation. For these reasons the necessity of a guidance counselor on schools cannot be over emphasized. According to Basavage (2007), Career choice is one of many important choices students will make in determining future plans and that this decision will impact them throughout their lives. The essence of who the student is or want to become will revolve around what the student wants to do with their lifelong work. She went ahead to ask what really influences university students in one way or another. A career guidance counsellor is needed to unreliable and dangerous source in search of career information such as culture peer groups which can lead to their graduating into armed robbery and other criminal business unintentionally. The primary goal of career guidance and counselling is to make it possible for an individual to see and explore his or her unlimited endowed options. it is an undeniable fact that the major service areas of guidance and counselling are, educational guidance and counselling which assists students in their choices of career, vocational guidance and counselling which assists the individual to choose and prepare for an occupation that is compatible with his interests and aptitudes, and personal and social guidance and counselling which assists the individual to behave appropriately in relation to other members of the society (Odeck 2009 ; Ipaye, 2015). Career development provide insight to the fact that career counselling is being challenged to meet the needs of a society that is experiencing vast changes in the work place that is rapidly becoming more International Journal of Innovative Education Research (Zunker, 2012).

1. Statement of the Problem

Guidance and counseling programmes in secondary schools has not been given the proper attention it deserves; and until the proper attention is given to this form of education programme, majority of secondary school students will continue to have difficulty in career decision making. Okolie (2014) asserts that many secondary school students lack ideas on which course to study in the higher education institution after leaving secondary school. Also the list of vocations appear inexhaustible, likewise the variety of persons with varied attributes; and certainly not all persons are suitable for all vocations because every vocation needs certain background, preparation and aptitude; therefore only those that have the requirements succeed.

Nigeria like many other developing countries is faced with the problem of inability of her educators to relate education to employment opportunities; Okoye (2000). This is apparently in vogue in the nation’s secondary schools where many teachers are said to be incapable of assisting the students to perceive a vivid picture of the world of work. Olayinka (2001) opines that obtaining good grades in examination to acquire certificate either for admission into higher institutions or obtain good employment is the main goal of education to many people; rather than acquisition of knowledge and skills through studying .

In the light of above, this study intend to determine the relationship between vocational guidance and  career choice of secondary school students in Ado Odo Ota L.G.A, to determine the extent to which vocational guidance can practically reduce the level of unemployment among school leavers, to examine the factors inhibiting career decision making of secondary school students,  to also determine the factors that affect the effective implementation of vocational guidance in secondary schools in Ogun State.

1. Research Questions

The following are research questions to be address in the study:

1. What is the relationship between vocational guidance and career choice of secondary school students in Ado Odo Ota L.G.A?
2. To what extent can vocational guidance practically reduce the level of unemployment among school leavers?
3. What are the factors inhibiting career decision making of secondary school students?
4. What are the factors that affect the effective implementation of vocational guidance in secondary schools in Ogun State?

1. Research Objectives

From the research questions, the following are the research objectives of the study:

1. to determine the relationship between vocational guidance and career choice of secondary school students in Ado Odo Ota L.G.A.
2. to assess whether vocational guidance can practically reduce the level of unemployment among school leavers.
3. to investigate the factors inhibiting career decision making of secondary school students.
4. to know the factors that affect the effective implementation of vocational guidance in secondary schools in Ogun State.

1. Research Hypotheses

1. Significance of the Study

The essence of career education among youths cannot be undermined as It will help youths to develop the knowledge and skills they need to determine a career path. Youths can make informed decision in developing a career through the study of various occupation tools that will facilitate learning through hands-on training in conjunction with academic subjects.  Career education will provide a means of developing the youths' knowledge, understanding, and experience of opportunities in education, training and employment. With the current trend of global event on employment, youth should be able to take some steps that will lead to a good career choice. Ultimately, it draw the attention of the government, teachers and parents to ensure their children have a good vocational guidance on their career choice to enable become economically independent and self employed.

1. Scope of the Study

This study is only concentrated in Secondary School Students of Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.