Family determinants of career awareness among students in public secondary schools in Meru South Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya.

Abstract

Career awareness is an indicator of the degree of achieving democracy and individual freedom that an individual has in determining his or her professional growth and ultimately future plans. Career awareness equips learners with a holistic understanding of their talents, personality, interest and capability in preparation for their future endeavours. Uncertainty and lack of clarity drive most students towards making wrong career choices and as result, feel frustrated and live their entire life struggling at a job they had never wished for. These observations have raised concerns on career awareness and whether the efforts put by the schools, parents and government agencies in creating awareness on careers are effective. The study sought to determine the influence of family determinants on career awareness among students in public secondary schools in Meru South Sub County. The study adopted labelling and structural functionalism theories. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample size of 368 respondents comprising of 12 deans of studies, 12 guidance and counselling teachers,12 form three and 12 form four parents’ representatives, 8 principals and 312 form three and four students participated in the study. Data collection was done using questionnaire for students and teachers and interview for principals and parents’ representatives. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse quantitative data. The study established that family determinants had an influence on the students’ career awareness, especially on the career information issues. The family social economic status, family career path, parental advice and elder siblings were found to have a great influence on career awareness. Parents and guardians should be sensitized on the importance of career awareness to their children.