Career services provision and its role on career decision making among high school students in Tanzania: a comparative study between government and international schools in Dar es Salaam

The present study examined career services provision and its role on career decision making among high school students in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania by comparing career services in government and international schools. It identified career programmes offered to students, students’ career knowledge, their attitudes and teachers perception towards career services offered in government and international schools comparing the roles of career services on students, career decision making. The study was conducted in six secondary schools using a cross sectional survey with a sample of 322 students (190 and 132) students from three government and three international schools respectively) of them 154 were boys and 168 were girls one head of schools and one career counselors from each sampled school were included I the study making a total of 12 teachers. The data from students were collected through structured questionnaire and focus group discussions, and for teachers, interviews were adopted. The study revealed that students in international schools had access to many career programmes and they have better knowledge on career compared to students in government schools. This was reflected in the t-test results which showed significant difference in career knowledge between government schools students SD=6.76) and international school students (M=41.37, SD=11.67: T (194) =11.13, P=000) with an eta squared =27. Moreover, the study revealed a positive attitude towards career services for international school students at (M=39.47, SD=3.82) compared to low attitude value of (M=29.77, SD=2.58:t(212.42) =25.44, p=100) with an era squared= 67 from government schools which indicated that government schools students were not sure with the role of career services in their career decision making. Similarly, teaches in international schools showed more concern on career services in their schools on opposed to less concern expressed by government schools teachers. It was therefore concluded that, international schools in Dar es Salaam, provided better career services to their students than in government schools. Hence, it is crucial to improve career services in schools so as to help students in career decision making.