CAREER TEACHERS’ PERCEPTION INFLUENCE ON CAREER DECISION MAKING SELF-EFFICACY AMONG STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA

Career decision-making is crucial among people all over the world, and choosing a career is challenging to those who do not have a wide life experience. Students who make irrational career choices run the risk of experiencing severe consequences, such as low job performance, stress and anxiety relating to the job, and a lack of job satisfaction and happiness. The purpose of this study was to determine the career teachers’ perception influence on career decision-making self-efficacy among students in public secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. The objective of the study was to establish the career teachers’ perception influence on career decision-making self-efficacy among students in public secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study was guided by the Social Cognitive Career theory and Systems theory. This study used a cross-sectional survey research design. The data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. The target population consisted of 29,682 from three students in Kiambu County. The sample size consisted of 380 form three students who were selected using stratified sampling techniques from the 285 secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. Questionnaires were used for data collection. The questionnaires were pilot-tested with 30 students from three secondary schools (a boys’ school, a girls’ school and a mixed school), comprising 10 students from each category in Nairobi County, Kenya. Reliability was enhanced by the test-retest method, where a Cronbach coefficient alpha of 0.79 was established. The content validity of the instruments was guided by the objectives and the experts in the Department of Psychology, Counselling and Educational Foundations of Laikipia University. Data analysis was aided by SPSS (Version 26). The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics which include percentages, means, and frequencies. Hypotheses were tested using a t-test, Simple Regression and Analysis of Variance at a .05 level of significance. The research found out that career teachers’ perception (F=34.45, p=000) has a statistically significant influence on students’ career decision-making self-efficacy of students in public secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. Findings from the study might inform the Ministry of Education, policymakers, career teachers, and parents about students’ capacity to make the right career decisions. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that career teachers’ perception had a statistically significant influence on career decision-making self-efficacy among students in public secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study recommended that career teachers should take precautions while undertaking career guidance and counselling to students since their perception has an influence on career decision-making self-efficacy.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0722/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>