Family Determinants of Career Awareness among Students in Public Secondary Schools in Meru South Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the family determinants of career awareness among students in public secondary schools in Meru South Sub County. Career awareness is a sign of one's level of democracy and personal freedom in determining their professional development. Career awareness equips learners with a holistic understanding of their talents, personality, interest and capability in preparation for their future endeavours.  Uncertainty drive students towards making wrong career choices and as result feel frustrated at a job they had never wished for. Despite the schools having career teachers and Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) providing career guidance, students portray unawareness on occupation matters. 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. The study established that family determinants had an influence on the students’ career awareness, especially on the career information. The socioeconomic status of the parents, career path of the family, parental career advice and elder siblings were found to have a great influence on career awareness. However, parent’s level of education was of low significance on career awareness. Parents and guardians should be sensitized on the importance of career awareness to their children.

KEY WORDS: Career, Career Awareness, Family Determinants, Attitude, Parental Factors, Structural Functionalism

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-33-05

Publication date: November 30^th 2023