EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS: ROLE OF PARENTAL EDUCATION AND TYPE OF SCHOOLS

The current study sought to investigate the educational aspirations of secondary school adolescents concerning their parental education and types of schools. In this context, the research study's primary objective was to investigate the levels of educational aspirations of secondary school adolescents, as well as to examine their educational aspirations concerning parental education and the types of schools. The investigator gathered data from 400 adolescents in the government and private schools of Darbhanga, Bihar, India, who were in the 9th and 10th grades. A descriptive research design was implemented by the investigator. The data were collected using the survey method, with the support of a self-developed questionnaire on "Educational Aspirations of Secondary School Adolescents." Chi-square analysis was used to interpret the data. The study's findings revealed that the majority of secondary school students, i.e., 9th and 10th graders, have moderate levels of educational aspirations, and the secondary school adolescents' educational aspirations are independent of their parental education and the type of school. Furthermore, the finding revealed that secondary school boys' educational aspirations are independent of the type of school whereas secondary school girls' educational aspirations are dependent on the type of schools they attend. Based on the study's findings, it is suggested that special career-related guidance and counseling sessions for both secondary school adolescents and parents may be organized by the school to improve the educational aspirations of the adolescents.