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
Description:
A THESIS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL STUDIES, FACULTY OF
SOCIAL SCIENCE, SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE
STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA, IN PARTIAL
FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD OF MASTER OF
PHILOSOPHY (SOCIAL STUDIES) DEGREE.
JULY, 2018