FACTORS INFLUENCING CHOICE OF SCHOOL SUBJECTS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

From the secondary school age, the adolescent are often faced with the problem of choosing subject that are suitable and relevant for the attainment of a dream career. This process of choice making leads the adolescent to select one form of subject or the other in which he or she is best suited.

        According to Okeke (1993) in pre colonial Nigeria, the acquisition of skills did not require much specialized assistance because it was organized informally at home and in families, village square, and at moon light games. These purpose were dearly understand by adult citizens who impacted the skills such as the pract9ical transmission of local customs, moral, religious and social values.

        In modern age, the quest for knowledge and excellence has made the society more complex and as a result create the problem of career choice among youth just coming out from secondary school, quite often, the adolescent student choose subjects for which they have no interest or ability on. It is always a failure on the part of student which can lead to frustration and eventually leads to dropout. With this, choosing a suitable and interesting subject becomes a problem which he or she must in one time or the other faced in future. The eventually becomes not just the individual students problem but societal and government responsibility.

        Also, the choice of a subject is very crucial in the life of the students as it may affect every aspect of their lives. A right choice in subject making will always afford the students opportunity to actualize their potentials in their chosen future career.

        Jaiyeola (1997) of the opinion that our young one needs constant guidance in their choice of subject; this is because it is common to find students choosing subjects for which they have little or no aptitude or interest in only to the end up frustration treated in long run    

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There have been a lot of research work carried out on this topic, but despite their findings and results, choice of school subject is still a common problem student’s face in school today. Therefore, this study tends to examine specific issue that serve as barriers to choice of secondary school subject

1.3    PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

This research work is carried out to examine those factors influencing choice of school subject among secondary school students in Esan North Local Government area of Edo State as its main purpose are:

1.3       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following are some of the research question to this research.

1.4       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Most parents are ill informal about the opportunities opened to their children. There is also lack of awareness of what should be factors to consider before choosing subject even among student themselves.

        There are also conflicting values by student at times when they are faced with problems of making right choice. These study will help students understand themselves and become more effective and productive.

        Also this study intend to reinforce the need for training and updating school counselors who will be of help to the interpretation of students results in order to place them where they belong. The study is aimed at reducing social voices of our young people. many students had dropped out of school due to their inability to recognize their potentials; thus this study will put them in normal human track and make them sensitive to social norms.,

        Therefore, the overall significance of this study is that it reveals the career aspiration of students with a promise that it will help career guidance expert in assisting tomorrow leaders making a good decision as regards their school subject which will save the young people from future failure and frustration but make them productive and equip them with the knowledge for future learning.

1.5       SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Due to the geographical nature of Edo state, and with the large numbers of secondary schools, this research therefore is limited to Egor Local Government Area only. This study is meant to examine the factors influencing choice of school subject among secondary school students.

        It aimed at identifying factors responsible for student choice of subject in secondary schools. It has its focus on student in secondary schools so that they can have a better future.

1.8    DEFINITION OF TERMS

CHOICE: An act of choosing between two or more possibilities or the willingness to select among others.

MANNER: the way something is done or happens.

SUBJECT: an area of knowledge that are studied in schools or universities.

COUNSELLORS: one who give expert advice to student in pressing issues.

INFLUENCE: factors that affects human decision making or thinking that affects the way person behaves or think.

FACTORS: they are reason behind certain happening or why things happen.