FACTORS AFFECTING THE CAREER CHOICES OF HIGH SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to examine the factors affecting career choices among high secondary school students. Objectives of the study were to explore the influence of factors determining on the career choice decisions of High secondary School Students. The research is descriptive in nature. The population of the study was all the government high secondary schools in district upper and lower Chitral. Samples of 100 research participants were selected for data collection from the higher secondary schools through stratified sampling technique. To analyze the data, both descriptive and inferential statistical procedures (Mean, standard deviation and T-test) were used. The study found significant differences between male and female student’s career choices based on gender and the influence of various career choice factors. The study revealed that in career choices more than half of the respondents mentioned that their parents & family and socio-culture does not influence on their career choices of high secondary schools students. The study recommends that for the effective career planning of students at high secondary level, guidance must be given. Without guidance students don’t know about their capacity, skills, interest, aptitude etc. Therefore they confused to select their career just because lack of proper guidance and counseling. The school administration must hire qualified career counselor to help students in their career development.