Role of self-esteem, motivation and gender in choice of programme of study in category ‘a’ senior high schools

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to assess the role of self-esteem, motivation and gender in the choice of a programme of study in category A Senior High School in the Volta Region of Ghana. An Ex Post Facto research design was selected for the research. A sample of 346 participants was used for the research. The researcher used purposive, simple and stratified random sampling methods in choosing the sample of participants from three category A Senior High Schools in the Volta Region. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Both descriptive and inferential analyses of the collected data were performed. The study revealed that pupils' programme choices were not significantly influenced by self-esteem. The study also showed that students' motivation in terms of extrinsic factors such as good salary, appealing working conditions, and increased social status as well as intrinsic factors like intelligence capability influenced their selection of a programme of study. The research also found that friends, teachers, and relatives had an influence on students' programme choice. Again the study found that gender did not influence the choice of a programme of study of students. However, there were fewer boys offering certain courses such as Home Economics. It was recommended that educators and managers should encourage pupils to take their self-esteem into account while selecting their programme of study.