The influence of career guidance in science subjects selection in secondary schools

This study investigated the influence of career guidance in science subjects’ selection in secondary schools. Specifically the study intended to: investigate availability of career guidance programmes in ordinary secondary schools, examine the awareness of secondary school students on existing careers, explore the sources of career information to secondary school students, and explore the relationship between science subjects’ selection and career guidance. The study was conducted in four secondary schools in Siha district in Kilimanjaro region with a total of 221 respondents including 217 Form Four students and 4 school counselors who were teachers appointed to conduct career guidance. Form four secondary school students were obtained through stratified random sampling. A descriptive survey design and mixed research approach were used to attain the objectives of the study. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, documentary review and focus group discussions and were analyzed quantitatively using SPSS and qualitatively by thematic method. The study findings were: First, career guidance programmes conducted in schools included career visits, individual counseling and group counseling. Second, students in schools with better career guidance programmes were much aware of different careers. Students from government schools were aware of careers such as teaching, medicine and nursing while not aware of careers such as architecture, agronomy, astronomy, geology and many types of engineering such as electrical engineering, petrol and gas engineering. Third, sources of career information to students included: parents, teachers, printed materials and television. Fourth, in schools with better career guidance services there was greater number of students studying science subjects, thus career guidance influences selection of science subjects. The study recommends that MoEST to employ career guidance professionals, conduct in-service training to school counselors, develop both electronic and textual materials for up-to-date career information and make effective inspection on provision of career guidance services. Longitudinal study can be done to investigate the extent to which students who selected science subjects in ordinary secondary schools enter science careers in higher learning