STUDENTS' PERCEPTION OF THE ROLE OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN THE CHOICE OF A CAREER


STUDENTS' PERCEPTION OF THE ROLE OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN THE CHOICE OF A CAREER    

ABSTRACT

 This research work is based on students’ perception of the role of the school counselor in the choice of a career using Esan West Local Government Area of Edo state. The study concentrated on the different roles counselor plays in secondary schools, perceptions of students at the junior and senior secondary levels on the role of counselors, the importance of career counseling in schools as well as the need for counselors in secondary schools.

The findings show that the perception of students of the role of school counselors is positive. This proves that the secondary school students in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State have positive perceptions of the role of school counselors in their choice of a career, which clearly shows the need for more professional counselors in our public schools.

Some recommendations were made such as creating counseling units in secondary schools, recruiting more professional counselors in schools as well as organizing career day/week for students, and ways to include career guidance into the secondary school programs.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page …………………………………………………………...i

Certification ………………………………………………………iii

Dedication ………………………………………………………..iv

Acknowledgment……………………………………………….v

Table of content …………………………………………………vii

Abstract ……………………………………………………………

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background to the study ……………………………….1

1.2    Statement of the problem ……………………………….7

1.3    Purpose of the study ……………………………………10

1.4    Research question ………………………………………11

1.5    Significance of the study ………………………………11

1.6    Scope of the study ………………………………………13

1.7    Limitation of the study………………………………….13      

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1    Theoretical framework on career ……………………16

2.2    A changing workplace ………………………………….19

2.3    Lack of career knowledge ……………………………..22

2.4    Career development …………………………………….25

2.5    Challenges in the field of guidance and     counseling ………………………………………………..25

2.6    Supporting a comprehensive counseling     and     guidance system ………………………………………...29

2.7    Effective career development     intervention ……..31

2.8    Research on career development ……………………38

2.9    Summary of literature review ………………………..44

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.1    Research design …………………………………………48

3.2    Population of the study ………………………………..48

3.3    Sample and sampling technique …………………….49

3.4    Research instrument……………………………………49           

3.5    Validity of the instrument …………………………….50          

3.6    Reliability of the study …………………………………50

3.8    Method of data analysis ……………………………….51

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANALYSIS PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

4.1    Discussion of results …………………………………..59

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1    Conclusion ……………………………………………….65

5.2    Recommendations ……………………………………...66

5.3    Suggestions for further studies. ……………………..68

References ………………………………………………..69

Appendix 1………………………………………………..76

Appendix 11………………………………………………77

CHAPTER TWO

INTRODUCTION

 The review of relate literature was carried out under the following headings.

Theoretical framework on career A changing workplace Lack of career knowledge Career development Challenges in the field of guidance and counseling Supporting a comprehensive counseling and guidance system Effective career development intervention Research on career development

2.1   THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ON CAREER

Donald Super’s (1990) theory view career development as a lifelong process encompassing developmental task for the individual as he or she negotiates the personal construction of self and the self’s relationship to the world. (Herr, et. al. 2004). Super posited that individual progresses through five states of career development: growth, exploration, establishment, maintenance and disengagement. (Brown & Lent, 2005, Lapan 2004). The elementary school years encompass developmental tasks in the growth stage. They include;

Recognizing and increasing personal control over one’s life, that is Locus of Control (LOC) Becoming concerned about the future, learning to plan for the future and acquiring competent work habits and a positive attitude achievement in school and work.

Super maintained that positive development across nine dimensions would help children accomplish the necessary task in career development and develop a self concept that embodied the capacity for good problem solving and decision making. According to Super (1990), the nine dimensions associated with accomplishment of required task for the career development of elementary students are:

Information:  A recognition of the importance of career information and knowledge of where to acquire such information. Curiosity:  The need to learn more about the world.  

Exploration:  A drive to engage in experience that will teach the individual about self and the environment.  

Interest:  Knowledge/awareness of an individual likes and dislikes.  

Locus of control: The degree to which an individual maintain a sense of control over choices in the immediate environment, the present and the future.

Key figures:  role models and significant persons who influences an individual’s development.

Time perspective:  An understanding of how the past, present and future affect the choices and consequences of behavior. Planning: Knowing the importance of planning

Self-concept:  An identity encompassing roles and behaviors within the contexts of relationships. (Schultheiss & Stead, 2004; Super 1990).

2.2   A CHANGING WORKPLACE

The skills necessary for competition in today’s globally competitive workplace are complex and constantly changing. The average young baby boomer born between 1957 and 1964 held 10.8 different jobs between the ages of 18 and 42. (Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2008). All indicators point to this number is rapidly increasing for today’s students. Global competition, technical advances and continuous innovations in product and process development challenges traditional rules related to organizational structure, employee tenures and advancement. (Feller & Rich 2003). Companies are outsourcing services and product manufacturing, and the economy is completely integrated. Workers are being forced to retrain or be replaced by new technologies or more highly skilled employees. Either by chance or by choice, workers are required to make complex and frequent career decisions as they navigate the changing workplace, making strong career guidance more important than ever.

Not only is the workplace itself changing rapidly, but individual career opportunities are evolving as well. Some traditional careers have become obsolete, while new ones are emerging at a rapid pace. The Bureau of labor and statistics estimates that 15.6 million new jobs will be added to the labour force between 2006 and 2016. (Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2008). With population shift and new technologies fuelling job growth, many of these new jobs will require higher communication; math, technology and employability skill level than ever before. Even careers in traditional occupational areas such as the service sector are requiring higher level skills such as creativity, problem solving, communication, entrepreneurship, computational analysis, collaboration and team work. (Van & Debra, 2008).

Unfortunately, today’s students often do not understand the new world of work, and there are gaps in work readiness that must be addressed by educators and employers. Although workforce shortages are widely reported, far too few of these available are prepared to perform today’s job duties let alone the duties of the jobs that will emerge in the evolving future. (Herman, et. Al, 2003).

2.3   LACK OF CAREER KNOWLEDGE

The lack of preparation to navigate the changing workplace can be tied specifically to a lack of career knowledge and awareness. More than half of high school students say no one in their school has been helpful in advising on career option to further their education. (Hurley et.al.2002). Without structured guidance activities, young people tend to drift through their high school education without gaining knowledge of all the career opportunities available to them or the skills that are required. Some will become discouraged and drop out of high school; others may miss the connection between high school, post secondary education and the workplace and make career decisions based on inaccurate or incomplete information.

In a survey carried out by the state of our nation’s youth, the top career choices among students in an open ended question were doctor or surgeon (10%), teacher of professor (8%), engineer (6%), nurse/medical assistant (6%), arts or entertainment (5%), lawyer or attorney (5%). Horatio Agler Association of Distinguished American, Inc 2008-2009. Most of these choices require a number of years of post secondary education. Yet only 70% of students graduate from school on time and only 34% graduate ready for college. (Alliance for Excellent Education, 2000). This disconnects between aspiration and educational performance set students up for personal or financial disappointment as they are faced with the realities of the job market.

.


TYPE IN YOUR TOPIC AND CLICK SEARCH.






RESEARCHWAP.COM

Researchwap.com is an online repository for free project topics and research materials, articles and custom writing of research works. We’re an online resource centre that provides a vast database for students to access numerous research project topics and materials. Researchwap.com guides and assist Postgraduate, Undergraduate and Final Year Students with well researched and quality project topics, topic ideas, research guides and project materials. We’re reliable and trustworthy, and we really understand what is called “time factor”, that is why we’ve simplified the process so that students can get their research projects ready on time. Our platform provides more educational services, such as hiring a writer, research analysis, and software for computer science research and we also seriously adhere to a timely delivery.

TESTIMONIES FROM OUR CLIENTS


Please feel free to carefully review some written and captured responses from our satisfied clients.

  • "Exceptionally outstanding. Highly recommend for all who wish to have effective and excellent project defence. Easily Accessable, Affordable, Effective and effective."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "I saw this website on facebook page and I did not even bother since I was in a hurry to complete my project. But I am totally amazed that when I visited the website and saw the topic I was looking for and I decided to give a try and now I have received it within an hour after ordering the material. Am grateful guys!"

    Hilary Yusuf, United States International University Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • "Researchwap.com is a website I recommend to all student and researchers within and outside the country. The web owners are doing great job and I appreciate them for that. Once again, thank you very much "researchwap.com" and God bless you and your business! ."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "I love what you guys are doing, your material guided me well through my research. Thank you for helping me achieve academic success."

    Sampson, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • "researchwap.com is God-sent! I got good grades in my seminar and project with the help of your service, thank you soooooo much."

    Cynthia, Akwa Ibom State University .
  • "Great User Experience, Nice flows and Superb functionalities.The app is indeed a great tech innovation for greasing the wheels of final year, research and other pedagogical related project works. A trial would definitely convince you."

    Lamilare Valentine, Kwame Nkrumah University, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • "Sorry, it was in my spam folder all along, I should have looked it up properly first. Please keep up the good work, your team is quite commited. Am grateful...I will certainly refer my friends too."

    Elizabeth, Obafemi Awolowo University
  • "Am happy the defense went well, thanks to your articles. I may not be able to express how grateful I am for all your assistance, but on my honour, I owe you guys a good number of referrals. Thank you once again."

    Ali Olanrewaju, Lagos State University.
  • "My Dear Researchwap, initially I never believed one can actually do honest business transactions with Nigerians online until i stumbled into your website. You have broken a new legacy of record as far as am concerned. Keep up the good work!"

    Willie Ekereobong, University of Port Harcourt.
  • "WOW, SO IT'S TRUE??!! I can't believe I got this quality work for just 3k...I thought it was scam ooo. I wouldn't mind if it goes for over 5k, its worth it. Thank you!"

    Theressa, Igbinedion University.
  • "I did not see my project topic on your website so I decided to call your customer care number, the attention I got was epic! I got help from the beginning to the end of my project in just 3 days, they even taught me how to defend my project and I got a 'B' at the end. Thank you so much researchwap.com, infact, I owe my graduating well today to you guys...."

    Joseph, Abia state Polytechnic.
  • "My friend told me about ResearchWap website, I doubted her until I saw her receive her full project in less than 15 miniutes, I tried mine too and got it same, right now, am telling everyone in my school about researchwap.com, no one has to suffer any more writing their project. Thank you for making life easy for me and my fellow students... Keep up the good work"

    Christiana, Landmark University .
  • "I wish I knew you guys when I wrote my first degree project, it took so much time and effort then. Now, with just a click of a button, I got my complete project in less than 15 minutes. You guys are too amazing!."

    Musa, Federal University of Technology Minna
  • "I was scared at first when I saw your website but I decided to risk my last 3k and surprisingly I got my complete project in my email box instantly. This is so nice!!!."

    Ali Obafemi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Niger State.
  • To contribute to our success story, send us a feedback or please kindly call 2348037664978.
    Then your comment and contact will be published here also with your consent.

    Thank you for choosing researchwap.com.