THE IMPACT OF PARENTAL HISTORY, PEER GROUP, AND CAREER ASPIRATION ON STUDENT
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of parental background, peer group, and aspiration on students’ choice of literature in English as a subject in school certificate examinations in Egor local government area of Edo state.
The goal of this study is to investigate the aforementioned factors in order to find solutions and improve student participation in English literature.
Four hypotheses were developed and tested using data gathered from a student questionnaire. Respondents were selected from six schools in the egor local government area. A sample of 100 students, ranging from SSI to SSII and SS III. The data was analyzed using a simple percentage.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
THE STUDY’S BACKGROUND
Nigeria is currently experiencing rapid economic, industrial, and political growth, and as a result, Nigerian students are faced with the problem of selecting a career or vocation from among the numerous existing ones that the students may be aware of.
Furthermore, in Nigeria, where appropriate human resources are scarce, influencing students’ occupational interests and behavior, as well as their maximum development and utilization, has become a primary concern.
In fact, a variety of factors influence students’ career choices, including family background, academic performance, prestige and monetary prospects, peer group influence, and intrinsic values within the students. According to Okigbo [1978], one of the goals of the educational program in Nigeria is to make an impact in the field of art education in order to meet the growing needs of the human resources sector and the humanities.
The National Policy on Education [1981] is also intended to meet Nigeria’s development goals.
However, observations and studies have shown that students’ interest, enrollment, and performance in English literature have remained very low over the years. The general perception is that special ability, talent, and sex have a lot to do with studying English literature.
In addition, students’ inability to perform well in literature in English and the reasons why few take it up have been attributed to a negative attitude toward the subject. Attitudes are entwined with a person’s feelings, needs, and self-concept; similarly, attitudes are difficult to change once formed.
Literature in English is not only regarded as difficult; many people believe that the subject is only suitable for students who are interested in the arts.
To effectively stimulate students’ interest in English literature as an appealing and satisfying intellectual discipline in the humanities, efforts must be made to identify the contributing factors.
While academic performance in school subjects influences students’ career and vocation choices, other factors in the learner’s environment also influence this choice. In a study on family education and society, Musgrave [1967] stated that the family still exerts a powerful influence on the prospects, capacity for development, and life chances of the young.
According to Musgrave, parental status has a significant influence on career choice. Some Nigerian businessmen, for example, want their children to study Business Administration in universities so that they will be well equipped to run their parents’ businesses, whether they are good in subjects related to the study of Business Administration or not. To that end, Joe DC Graft’s sons and daughters is a case study of the effects of parental coercion on their child’s career choice. In the novel, the protagonist, James Ofosu, wanted his daughter, Momaan, to study law, despite the latter’s preference for music.
Our secondary schools in Nigeria teach four basic arts subjects. Literature, Government, History, and Christian Religious Studies are among them. However, the focus of this paper will be on the factors that influence students’ decision to study Literature in English as a school certificate subject.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of parental background, peer group, and career aspiration on students’ choice of literature in English in Egor local government area of Edo state.
Given the number of students who end up studying English literature at the level, one is prompted to ask;
i. Does the attitude of the peer group have a significant influence on students’ choice of Literature in English?
ii. What effects does family background have on students’ attitudes toward English literature?
This study will look into whether teachers’ attitudes and guidance-counseling services have a significant influence on students’ attitudes toward literature in English.
STUDY PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of parental background, peer group, and career aspiration on secondary school students’ choice of Literature-in-English as a subject.
This study will make some recommendations to improve students’ interest in and understanding of the subject’s importance to their future [life] career.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will provide useful information about the parental background, peer group, and career aspirations of students in secondary schools in Edo state’s Egor Local Government Area.
Because English Literature is an essential component of arts courses such as Philosophy, History, and International Studies, English, Linguistics, and Theatre Arts.
The importance of probing or investigating the factors influencing its enrollment in secondary schools cannot be overstated.
The findings of this study will help the school guidance and counselling unit identify areas of emphasis when advising students on subject selection.
It will give parents insight into their children’s main problems and how to best advise them. It is also hoped that this study will go a long way toward providing a much-needed remedy and increasing the number of students studying Literature in English.
Finally, it will be useful to the government because it will explain how to best achieve the national reduction objectives.
It will also serve to broaden the boundaries of knowledge by benefiting those who may be interested in conducting research on the same or similar subjects in the future.
HYPOTHESIS
The following will serve as guidelines in this investigation:
i. There is no significant influence of parents’ educational background on students’ choice of English literature.
ii. Parental occupation has no significant influence on students’ choice of Literature in English.
STUDY OBJECTIVES
The study will be conducted with students from six different secondary schools in Edo State’s Egor Local Government Area.
Students in SS II and SS III will be used because they are old enough to choose their own careers.
A questionnaire will be the primary tool. The questionnaire is intended to elicit demographic information from students, such as their parents’ educational level, socioeconomic status, occupation, and career goals, as well as the factors that influenced their decisions.
TERMS DEFINITION
For clarity, the following words and terms are defined.
1. Socio-Economic Status: Hornby defined “status” as “a person’s legal, social, or professional position in relation to others.” In this study, “status” refers to one’s social and economic standing within the social stratification. According to the above definition of socioeconomic status, the high, middle, and low socioeconomic classes are as follows:
a. High socioeconomic class: These are people who have a salary grade of 13 or higher. These individuals include top ministry officials such as the permanent secretary, bank managers, directors of corporations and parastatals, and successful self-employed individuals. Professionals, such as academic doctors, are also included.
b. Middle socioeconomic class: These are people with salary grades 7-12, such as secondary school teachers, primary school principals, journalists, civil servants, and so on.
c. Low Socio-Economic Class: This category includes manual workers, petty traders, clerical workers, small-scale farmers, and those who perform minor repairs.
2. Career: A means of earning a living and advancing oneself in life.
3. Peer group: Close friends of the same age, class mates with similar interests, or a group of people of equal merit and quality.
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THE IMPACT OF PARENTAL HISTORY, PEER GROUP, AND CAREER ASPIRATION ON STUDENT