ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to look into influence of parental
background, peer group and aspiration on students choice of literature in
English as a subject in school certificate examination in Egor local government
area of Edo state.
The purpose of this study is to examine the above mentioned
factors with a view to finding solutions and ensuring better students
participation in literature in English.
Four hypotheses were formulated and tested with data collected
with the help of students questionnaire. The respondents were drawn from six
schools in egor local government area. A sample of hundred (100) students all
drawn from SSI to SSII and SS III. Simple percentage was used to analyse the
data collected.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Nigeria
is presently witnessing a rapid economic, industrial and political growth and
as such, the Nigerian students are faced with the problem of choice of career
or vocation out of the numerous existing ones which are possibly known to the
students.
Besides,
Nigeria as a developing country where appropriate human resources are at a
premium, the influencing of students occupational interest and their behaviour,
their maximal development and utilization become a concern of primary
importance.
Infact,
there are a number of factors that influence the choice of career among
students such factors include: family background, academic performance,
prestige and monetary prospects, peer group influence and the intrinsic values
within the students. Okigbo [1978] noted that, one of the objectives of the
educational programme in Nigeria is to make an impact in the area of art
education so as to meet the growing needs of the human resources sector and
humanities.
The
National Policy on Education [1981] is also designed to meet this line of
development of Nigeria.
However,
observation and studies have so far revealed that students’ interest, enrolment
and performance in literature in English have remained very poor over the
years. The general impression is that special ability skilled, talent and sex
have a lot to do with the study of literature in English.
Also,
student’s inability to perform well in literature in English and why few take
it up as been adduced to negative attitude towards the subject. Attitudes are
wrapped up with a persons feeling, need and self concept, likewise attitude
once formed is difficult to change.
Literature-in-English is not only looked at as difficult, people are of the
view that the subject is for student who are arts oriented.
Effort must
therefore be made to identify the contributing factors in order to effectively
stimulate the interest of students in literature in English as an attractive and
satisfying intellectual discipline in the humanities.
While
academic performance in school subjects largely determine the choice of career
and vocations among students certain factors in the environment of learner also
influence this choice. Such environmental factors include the family view,
Musgrave [1967] in a study on the family education and society, stated that the
family still exerts a powerful influence on the prospects, capacity for
development and life chance of the young.
Musgrave
asserted that parental status is a strong influential factor on the choice of
career. For example some Nigerian Businessmen ant their children to study
Business Administration in the universities so that such children will be well
equipped so as to be in charge of their parent’s business enterprises, whether
such children are good in subject relevant to study of Business Administration
or not. In support of this, Joe DC Graft, sons
and daughters is a case study of the effects of parental forceful
influence on their child’s choice of career. In the novel, James Ofosu, the
protagonist, wanted his daughter, Momaan to study law against the latter’s
choice for music.
In Nigeria
four basic arts subjects are taught in our secondary schools. These are
Literature, Government, History, and Christian Religious Studies. But this
paper will dwell on the factors influencing students towards the choice of
Literature –in- English as a school certificate subject.
This study
is therefore designed to find the influence of parental background, peer group
and career aspiration on students choice of literature –in-English in Egor
local government area of Edo state.
Considering
the number of students that end up studying literature in English at the level,
one is prompted to ask;
i. Does the peer groups attitude have any
significant influence on student’s choice of Literature-in-English?
ii. What are the effects of family background on
students’ attitude to Literature-in-English?
iii. Does the teachers’ attitude and
guidance-counseling service have any significant influence on students attitude
to Literature-in-English, all these and more are to be investigated in this
study.
This study
is aimed at investigating the effect of parental background, peer group and
career aspiration on student’s choice of Literature-in-English as a subject in
secondary schools.
This study
will suggest some recommendations towards the improvement of student’s interest
and understanding of the importance of the subject to their future [life]
career.
This study
will provide useful information as regards the parental background, peer group
and career aspiration on students’ in secondary schools in Egor Local
Government Area of Edo state.
Since
Literature-in-English is a vital component of arts courses like Philosophy,
History and International studies, English, Linguistics, Theatre-Arts.
The need to
probe or investigate the factors influencing it’s enrolment in secondary
schools can not be over emphasized.
The result
of this study will enable the school guidance and counselling unit know the
areas of emphasis when advising the students on subject choice.
It will
provide parents the insight into main problems of their children and how best
to advise them. It is also hoped that, this study will go a long way in
providing the much needed remedy and ensuring increased number among students
in Literature-in-English.
Lastly, it
will be of help to the government as this will tend to explain how best to
achieve the national objectives of reduction.
It will
also serve as an extension the frontiers of knowledge as it will benefit person
who might be interested in conducting a research on the same or similar
subjects in the future.
In this
investigation the following will serve as guidelines:
i. There is no significant influence of parents
educational background on students choice of Literature-in-English.
ii. There is no significant influence of parental
occupation on students’ choice of Literature-in-English.
The study
will be conducted among students in six selected secondary schools in Egor
Local Government Area of Edo State.
Students in
SS II and SS III will be used because they are old enough to determine what
career they want to pursue.
The main
instrument to be used is a questionnaire. The questionnaire is designed to find
out the demographic characteristics of the students; the parents’ educational
level, socio-economic status and occupation and career to be pursued by the
student and what influenced them to choose such careers.
The
following words and terms are defined for clarity.
1. Socio-Economic
Status: Hornby defined ‘status’ as a person’s legal, social or professional
position in relation to others in this study, it is refer to one’s standing
socially and economically within the social stratification. In the light of the
above definition of socio-economic status, high, middle and low socio-economic
classes are defined as follows:
a. High
socio-economic class: These are people who fall in the category of salary grade
13 and above. These include top ministries officials such as permanent
secretary, managers of bank, directors of corporation and parastatals and those
successful self employed individuals. They also include professionals, like
academic doctors etc.
b. Middle
socio-economic class: Theses are persons on salary grade level 7-12, these
include secondary school teachers, primary school headmasters, journalist,
civil servant etc.
c. Low
Socio-Economic Class: These are persons on salary grade level 01-06, these
include manual workers, petty traders, clerical workers, small scale farmers
and those that make minor repairs.
2. Career: A way of making a livelihood and
advancing one’s self through life.
3. Peer
group: Close friends of the same age, class mates of the same interest or a
group formed by persons of equal merit of quality.
Department | Education |
Project ID Code | EDU0259 |
Chapters | 5 Chapters |
No of Pages | 52 pages |
Methodology | Descriptive |
Reference | YES |
Format | Microsoft Word |
Price | ₦4000, $15 |
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Contact Us On | +2349067372103 |
Contact Us On | +2349094562208 |
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