CHAPTER ONE

1.0    Introduction

1.1      Background of The Study

The problem of career choice has implications for national development. In every society, the quality of workers as well as their degree of job satisfaction contributes directly or indirectly to economic stability and the smooth running of the affairs of the nation. If workers are unable to derive satisfaction from their job, frustration sets in with accompanying decline in productivity and civil unrest due to the workers thwarted goals. Occupation according to Onyejiaku (1987) is a way of life. It moulds one’s character, determines one’s social status, income, style of life, choice of friends and, mental and physical health (Denga, 1968). This implies that the choice of occupation has a persuasive connection with one’s entire way of life. Generally, it is believed that the primary motive behind the pursuit of various occupations is the fundamental human need to ‘make ends meet’, to satisfy needs. While this has some truth in it, the contemporary society with its dynamic and sophisticated social and economic systems have taken the problem of occupational choice a step or two further by making it both complex and intriguing. On the other hand, many are the variables that operate to decide which occupation an individual chooses. Practically, every effort put forth to decide an occupation translates, in the light of significant factors, to an effort to limit oneself from entering into a wide array of careers. In other words, occupational choices made imply foregoing several alternatives. A number of these factors tend to impact more strongly than others. A universal hierarchy of these factors in order of extent of influence eludes us because, at least, no two individuals are the same. What may significantly influence the occupational preference of one person may have less significance for another. However, while it is difficult to determine the relative potency of these variables, it is true that there is some form of interaction among them where one modifies the other. While some of these variables are psychologically and biologically rooted, others have socio-economic undertones. Still, it is not uncommon for individuals to get into an occupation by accident or chance (Onyejiaku, 2001).

This research delves deeply into the influence of sociological factors on career choice. Specifically, it picks on the relationship between family background and career chocie among secondary school students in ethiope west local government area of Delta statea. Of all the socio-economic forces shaping the career pattern of an individual, the family unit has ever been among the most influential. Being the first agent of socialization, it exerts the earliest influence on the psycho-social life of the child, thus making its role very critical.

1.2      Statement of Problems

Consistent with previous findings, parents perceive themselves as the most influential figures in their childrens’ career development and decisions. Parents overwhelmingly ranked themselves as the most influential people. The only other groups seen to be fairly consistently were teachers, followed by counsellors. Therefore, it appears as if parents take over the role in the career decision-making process. They may also have felt obligated to list themselves high and rank others lower because it may be disheartening to a parent to think that they are not influential in their children’s development. Although they perceive themselves to have minimal influence on adolescent career decision-making, they, nevertheless, view themselves as being more influential than any other individual. They may be interpreting career choice as simply a process of trial and error.

When students become curious about pursuing a particular field of study or career plan, parents who feel that they should not interfere may appear aloof to their children, causing miscommunication between the two parties. This passivity may result from a lack of knowledge about careers, a desire to instill independence in their children, or a fear of becoming dictatorial (particularly if a child is not content with the parents’ choice). Regardless of their motives, parents need to be aware of their role in career development, since previous research indicates that they have the most influential role. If parents do not feel comfortable discussing various careers with their children, it may be easier to do nothing or say that they don’t have any influence. In the African culture, parents are overwhelmingly involved as the key determinants of career choice among students in secondary schools as seen in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State not considering the abilities and disabilities of these students or considering their desired career choice.

Family influence is an important force in preparing youth for their roles as workers. Young people develop interest about work and careers as a result of interactions with the family. Family background provides the basis from which their career planning and decision making evolve. However, within each family, the level of involvement can vary, offering both positive and negative influences. This work examines the research on family influences on career development and describes implications for practice.

"The family background factors found to be associated with career development includes: parents' socioeconomic status (SES), their educational level, and biogenetic factors such as physical size, gender, ability, and temperament" (Penick and Jepsen 1992, p. 208). In a study of the influences on adolescents' vocational development reported by Mortimer et al. (1992), the variable that had the most effect on educational plans and occupational aspirations was parental education.

Mortimer et al. also reported that parents with postsecondary education tend to pass along its importance to their children--a finding supported by other studies. Montgomery (1992) notes that females talented in math viewed their career choices as reflective of interests that stemmed from early family influence and educational opportunities. Marso and Pigge (1994) found that the presence of teachers in the family was a significant factor influencing teacher candidates' decisions to teach. DeRidder (1990), however, points out that lower levels of parent education can retard adolescents' career development. "Being born to parents with limited education and income reduces the likelihood of going to college or achieving a professional occupational goal and essentially predetermines the child's likely vocational choice" (p. 4).

Family income is another aspect of family background that influences the career development of youth, especially for girls (Mortimer et al. 1992). One reason for this may be that families with limited economic resources tend to direct them first to the males of the family, giving less hope and encouragement for further education to the daughters in the family. Also, some parents--especially working class or lower-income parents--may hold values that place girls in the homemaker role and reflect less emphasis on occupational preparation. Given this disposition, it is understandable that the self-efficacy of girls with respect to career opportunities is linked to the economic support they can expect to receive from their parents.

1.3    Purpose of the Study 

The purpose of the study is to find out the relationship between family background and career choice among secondary school students in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State. Specifically, the study aims at finding out whether:

1. Parental attitude towards occupations influences the career choice of students in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.                                  
2. Parents’ level of formal education influences the career choice of students in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
3. Parents’ occupation influences the career choice of students in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

1.4      Significance Of The Study

The dynamic and sophisticated socio-economic system of the contemporary society with accompanying innovations in science and technology present a wide array of occupations for our youths to choose from. However, several factors operate to make a realistic choice in this respect somewhat difficult. Prominent among these factors are parental background variables namely: attitudes towards occupations, level of formal education, and occupation. This study is significant in that it would expose the influence of these variables on the career choice of secondary school students in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State wherefore students could be helped to make realistic occupational choices. Furthermore, from the findings of this study parents would, through PTAs (Parents-Teachers Associations), be dissuaded from compelling their children into taking up occupations that are not at par with their personal characteristics and abilities.

Parents often have very high academic and career expectations for their children, which some children cannot live up to. Unfortunately in some societies, disappointing one's parents is a tragedy students cannot deal with, so it becomes a burden to them.

I remember an engineering student who lived next door to me when I was in college. He used to study all of the time, and it was rare to see him. I once told him that he must love engineering to work so hard for it. He said that he did not really want to be an engineer, but that is what his parents wanted him to be. He really wanted to be a photographer.

Unfortunately, many parents may want their children to work in a highly paid and prestigious field because of social snobbery or as a form of competition with their friends and relatives whose children may be studying or working in a prestigious field. In Living with Teenagers: A Guide for Muslim Parents, Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood writes:

"Sometimes parents are rather snobbish---they only tend to think in terms of the highly paid, skilled salaried jobs for their offspring. Whereas it is true that Islam encourages every person to seek the most knowledge that they can, and to aim as high as they can, any social snobbery is totally against the spirit of Islam, which gives dignity to every honourable employment, no matter how lowly.

Parents have therefore to watch out that they do not push him or her above their capabilities. The Prophet taught that there is no room in Islam for snobbery. The man who works as a simple porter or road-sweeper has as much right to his dignity as the manager of a great business concern (particularly in this age when the manager is deeply immersed in banking and interest transactions which are forbidden). What counts is honesty, and the attitude to the work one is doing.

Since society needs rubbish collectors just as much as brain surgeons, nobody need regard any useful employment as being beneath them---the prophet Dawud was a shepherd and a metalworker, Nuh and Isa were carpenters, and Musa was a shepherd, peace be upon them, and Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was a trader. Islam actually gave dignity to many professions which people had previously considered lowly and degrading, including, incidentally, being a housewife."

1. 1.5Research Questions

The following research questions were used to guide the study:

1. To what extent does parents’ attitude affects career choice among secondary school students?
2. Is career choice among secondary school students affected by parents’ level of education?
3. How does parents occupation affects their children when its contradict their will as related to vocation?

  1.6    Research Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were formulated to guide the research:

     1.  Parents’ attitudes towards occupations do not significantly influence the  career choice of secondary school students in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

     2.   Parents’ levels of education do not significantly influence the career choice of students in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

1. Parents’ occupations do not significantly influence the career choice of students in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

1.7      scope /Delimitation

The study cover the relationship between family background and career choice among secondary school students. The study will be limited only to Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

1.10   Operational Definition Of Terms

Family:          This is a group of blood relatives, especially parents and their children. Its could also be defined as a group of people related by heredity, such as parents, children and siblings.

Variable:      This is a characteristic, number, or quantity that increases or decreases over time, or takes different values in different situations.

Career:          This is an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress.

Choice:          This is an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities.

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