Parental Influence, Socioeconomic factors and School Environment and Career Choice amongst Secondary School Students in Kabale District, Uganda
Description
This study aims to see if there was a relationship between parental influence, socioeconomic factors, school environment and career choice among senior three and senior five students among 10 secondary schools in the Kabale district. For the year 2017, the study’s target population was all 1005 students from senior three and senior five, with a sample of 300 students. A cross-sectional survey research design was followed and a multistage sampling technique was used for selecting schools and students. The instrument for data collection was the Career choice questionnaire. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for social sciences (IBM SPSS) software, to produce frequencies, percentages and correlation coefficients. The findings indicate that students considered their family's socioeconomic status to be low based on their parent’s monthly income. The study findings further indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between parental influence, socioeconomic factors, school environment and career choice (r = .162, .228, .254, ρ < .01). Teachers and parents should always consider the influence of parents, socioeconomic factors and school environment when guiding their students on issues related to careers, this study recommend. This will allow students to make the best career decisions possible based on their educational achievements and career goals.