INFLUENCE OF PARENTS ON CHOICE OF CAREER AMONG SENIOR SECONDARYSCHOOL STUDENTS IN MINNA METROPOLIS OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated influence of parents on choice of career among senior secondary students’ in Minna
Metropolis of Niger State. The relative influence of variables such as parents’ level of education, parents’
occupation and family types were examined using four objectives, one research question and three
hypotheses. A descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population for the study
comprised of 4,658 students of (SSII) in Minna Metropolis with a sample size of 200 drawn using simple
random, stratified, proportionate and random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured
questionnaires tagged “Influence of Parents on Choice of Career among Senior Secondary School
Students Questionnaire (IPCCSSSQ)”. Face and content validity of the instrument was established and the
reliability coefficient of 0.82 was obtained to ensure consistency of the instrument. Data was analyzed
using percentage and frequency, mean and rank order and One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for all
hypotheses that were tested at 0.05 alpha level. Findings of the study revealed that parents’ encouragement
to students on making good career decisions, parents informing students about specific careers, and
parents’ encouragement to students on considering different education and career options were significant
influences of parents’ choice of career among senior secondary students in the Minna Metropolis. The
research hypotheses tested revealed that there were no significant differences in the parental influence on
choice of career among senior secondary school students in Minna Metropolis based on parents’ level of
education, occupation and family type. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that school
guidance counsellors should organize a meaningful career programme that will help to educate both
parents and students on the career choice