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ABSTRACT
The study examined the relationship between students' choice of degree courses and their career aspirations in Anambra State. The outcomes will provide students with information which will enable them make rational decision as regards choice of courses and factors to consider in career aspiration. To guide the study, four research questions were raised and four hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 alpha level. The study adopted descriptive survey research design to measure the differences between the variables of study. The population of the study was 2,520 students in the 118 secondary schools in Anambra South Senatorial District. The sample of the study consisted of 200 students and 20 secondary schools selected through the multi-stage sampling technique. The test instrument used for the study was a questionnaire titled "Student Choice and Career Aspiration Questionnaire (SCCAQ)". The test-retest statistics was used to establish the reliability of the instrument, the r value of 759 was obtained. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, t-test of independent samples and analysis of variance (ANOVA).
The findings revealed that males have a higher career aspiration in relation to choice of degree courses than females, students in urban area have a higher career aspiration in relation to choice of degree courses than those in rural areas Engineering Technology as a choice course have a higher career aspiration relative to choice of degree course than Natural Sciences, Social/Management Science, Education and Arts as a school course area had a higher career aspiration relative to choice of degree courses than Science and Social Sciences. The hypotheses tested revealed that there was a significant difference between male and female in their career aspirations, students' choice of courses and their career aspiration. It was found that there was no significant difference between career aspiration of students in urban and rural areas, and between school courses and career aspiration. It was concluded that proper assistance be given to students on career choice and appropriate subject combination to give them career direction and a clear view of future employment opportunities. It was therefore recommended that state education commission, national curriculum planners, makers of the National Policy on Education should ensure the posting of guidance counsellors to schools, and those in rural areas be made inclusive. There is need for parents to act as facilitators on their children's career journey by keeping the lines of communication open and encourage their children to gather as much information as possible on their career interest areas.
