Career Guide Expert System for Nigerian Secondary Schools Based on Howard Gardner Categorisation of Intelligence

Career Guide Expert System for Nigerian secondary schools is an applied research targeted at developing a web-based career guidance system for students transitioning from the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme to Senior secondary school (SSS). The transitioning process requires students to choose among groups of subjects (Science, Art, or Commercial) to study in SSS which ideally requires the services of counsellors. However, there is a shortage of counsellors in schools. This research will significantly address the problem of shortage of professional counsellors and inefficient associated manual career guidance, which can negatively affect the career trajectory of students. Three parameters (Howard Gardner Intelligence Categorization, Academic performance and student aspirations) were used in determining which of the three alternatives (Science, Art, and Commercial) suits a student the best. The inference engine of the Expert System was implemented using a weighted sum multiple decision criteria model to determine which alternative suits a student the most based on the data generated from the quiz attempted by a student. The system was validated by a professional counsellor who subjected the system to a test with twenty samples of student data and certified that the system was accurate. Thus, if this system is incorporated into the Nigerian educational system, it will revolutionize the career guidance process, leading to better performance of students and future career satisfaction.