INFLUENCE OF PARENTS ON STUDENT’S CHOICE OF COMMERCIAL SUBJECT IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS: CASE STUDY OF POTISKUM L.G.A, YOBE STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Student’s resumes secondary education with the expectations that the school will provide them with an environment that will allow them to freely decide the
subjects to study based on their abilities and interests. Interest in the subject is regarded as the most important motivational factor in learning. Interest can
be described as preference to engage in some types of activities rather than others. When interested in a particular phenomenon or activity, one is favourably
inclined to attend to it and give time for it. Education can vastly be viewed as formal, semi-formal and informal. Informal education system saw to it that
guardians or parents inculcated into their wards or children values and norms, and also taught them handcraft occupations which in turn became their
subject. In whatever form education may come, it invariably cultivates the mind or the intellect. It brings about self-realisation, ensures social reformation,
love in the society and a good life (Appiah, 2014). Accordingly, education is that which empowers man to perform in a justly, skilfully and satisfactory manner
to whatever capacity he finds himself. Amoor and Aliyu (2014) further assert that it is a process of leading and initiating people to acquire necessary skills,
facts, knowledge, habits and attitudes that will make them co-exist with others as useful and productive members of the society. According to a study carried
out in Ghana by Akyina, Oduro-Okyireh and Osei-Owusu (2014) governments over the years have laid emphasis through educational reforms on the need to
have subjects in schools that will aid the youths to occupy positions in the society. Thus, the government is affirmative that this can be achieved through
serious emphasis on guidance and counseling so that students can make right choices of subject of study; make good plans and decisions which will
ultimately promote disciplines in schools. This implies that there is unarguably an influential nexus between the choice of subject of study in a University and
subject choices in Senior High Schools so as to enable students channel their interests, aptitudes and abilities. However in the Nigerian context, this may not
always be the case as students find themselves deviating from their academic needs, aspirations and aim in life. The proper educational counselling that may
guide toward making intelligent and informed decisions are somewhat not sought aer
and this may lead to problems of coping with a course of study, lack
of interest, lack of motivation (Akyina et al, 2014) and subsequently withdrawal (Redmond, Quin, Devitt and Archbold, 2011). In senior secondary school,
students choose to study commercial subjects for a range of reasons. McPhan et al. (2008) identified five main groups of factors that influence students’
decisions about continuing the study of commercial subjects namely aspirations, engagement with the curriculum, performance, subject image and family
and peers. One factor which seems to have a significant influence particularly for some ethnic groups is that of families and, in particular, parents.
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PROJECT MATERIAL
INFLUENCE OF PARENTS ON STUDENT’S CHOICE OF COMMERCIAL SUBJECT IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS: CASE STUDY OF POTISKUM L.G.A, YOBE STATE
