A study of factors related to the educational decisions and career plans of secondary school seniors in one Nigerian state to pursue or not to pursue higher education

The purpose of this study was to explore reasons given for educational and occupational aspirations by Nigerian secondary school students. A review of pertinent literature based on the purpose of the study was conducted and research questions were formulated. The study design was nonexperimental using a one-group post test-only survey conducted among secondary school (SS3) seniors in the Cross River State of Nigeria in 1989. Five hundred eighty students participated in the survey. Simple random sampling methods were used to select 20 students from each of the 29 randomly sampled schools throughout the state. Data were computed from completed questionnaires, and relationships between selected variables were determined. Chi-square (X$\sp2$) tests, rank ordering analysis, and percentages were applied to answer the research questions and to present results of the study. All research questions tested through chi-square (X$\sp2$) analysis were tested at the 0.01 level of significance. It was concluded that factors that related to Nigerian students' decisions to pursue higher education were fathers' educational and occupational levels and students' academic performance. Students pursuing higher education were most influenced by future job opportunities and other economic reasons, parental pressure, and good grades; those not pursuing higher education were influenced by parents' financial inability to support their education, lack of scholarship award, and poor grades. Other factors to pursue or not pursue higher education received much lower ratings. More Nigerian students were interested in four-year university programs that one- or two-year programs where vocational or technical skills were learned. Secondary school students followed a highly comprehensive curriculum, but they reported needing guidance and counseling regarding their post-graduation occupational and career plans. While students' perceptions of manpower needs of Nigeria were consistent with actual manpower needs, their career choices were not, and students' intended academic majors were inconsistent with their occupational choices. More students aspired to jobs than intended to major in those areas or vice versa.