INFLUENCE OF FAMILY BACKGROUND ON CAREER ASPIRATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ZONE C, BENUE STATE

Career Aspirations implies the way in which an individual expresses himself and relates to society through work. This study examined the Influence of Family Background on Career Aspirations of Secondary School Students in Zone C of Benue State. The study was guided by research questions and hypotheses. The population of this study comprised all senior secondary school students of the 23 local government areas in Zone C of Benue State. The study was guided by research questions and hypotheses and 35 items questionnaire was administered on 377 respondents in 12 schools in the Zone. The data on research questions were analyzed using arithmetic mean and standard deviation. The hypotheses were further tested using chi-square statistical tool at 0.05 level of significance. Leveraging on Anne Roe’s theory of Career Aspiration, the study found that parents’ socio-economic, parents’ location or residential home, parental attitude, parents’ level of education and parents’ religion has significant influence on the career aspiration of students. The study therefore concludes that students should be appropriately guided in developing their capabilities since family factors have proved to exert influence on students’ career aspiration. The study recommends that; parents/school administrators should not prevail over a child’s career aspiration and capability rather proper guidance should be given to children. The study also recommends that government through the Ministry of Education should organized career workshop and seminars for both JSS and SS classes every year to enable them match their career aspiration irrespective of whatever family influence.