Gender and Career Choice: Counselling Implications for Promoting Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century

Abstract

This study examined the vocational interest among high and low academic achievers boys and girls in secondary schools in Ondo State, Nigeria. The instrument employed for the study was the vocational interest inventory (VII) after validation for the purpose of this study. Subjects used were 256 students selected through purposeful selection method, comprising of 128 low academic achievers and 128 high academic achievers of both sexes drawn from eight secondary schools located in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. The data collected were subjected to t-test statistics for analyses. The generated hypotheses were tested at P< 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that: there is significant difference in the vocational interest of high academic achiever boys and high academic achiever girls, there is no significant difference in the vocational interest of low academic achiever boys and low academic achiever girls, there is significant difference in the vocational interest of boys and girls irrespective of academic achievement. Recommendations were made based on the findings of this study that; the school counsellors, parents and government should assist individual secondary school student in choosing career that is congruent to his/her interest and ability for job satisfaction and fulfilled life. This will enhance a positive change necessary in vocational education for promoting entrepreneurship and sustainable development in 21^st century.

Keywords: Gender, High Academic Achievers, Low Academic Achievers, Vocational/Career Interest.