Factors influencing the career aspirations of students in public senior high schools in the Berekum Municipality, Ghana.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing career aspirations of Senior High School students in the Berekum Municipality of Ghana. The research design selected for this study was the descriptive survey design. Questionnaires were the instruments for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The results were presented in the form of tables. The results of the study showed that peer pressure had a great influence on the career aspirations of students. The study also revealed that students did not consider their interests as having a major influence on their career aspirations. Also, the study found that most of the teachers did not view themselves as playing significant roles in the career aspirations of their students. The study also revealed that parents had interest in the careers of their children and that their children would not take any career decisions without their approval. The study found also that there was a significant difference in the influence peer pressure had on career aspirations of male and female Senior High School students in the Berekum Municipality. Finally, the study revealed that there was no significant gender difference in the influence Senior High School students’ interest had on career aspirations. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that peer pressure largely determines the career aspirations of students. It was recommended that school heads collaborate with the counselling unit in the schools to organise career workshops for students about how to deal with the negative influence of peer pressure on their career aspirations. It was suggested that future studies use larger sample sizes to increase the extent to which the results can be generalised.