Career Guidance And Career Aspiration Among Students In Public Secondary Schools In Dodoma City, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at assessing career guidance and career aspiration among students in public secondary schools in Dodoma City, Tanzania. The study objectives were: firstly, to assess the status of career guidance practised in public secondary schools, secondly, to assess career aspirations of public secondary school students and thirdly, to assess factors influencing public secondary school students towards career aspirations. The study employed a qualitative approach and case study design to gather data from 88 respondents including 4 heads of schools, 4 teacher-counsellors and 80 students. Data were collected through open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.

The findings showed that; career guidance in public secondary schools helped students to identify their career aspirations which were determined by students’ career preferences, understanding career guidance opportunities and career competences and demands which helped them to acquire career information about various career issues. However, lack of professional teacher-counsellors, limited time and lack of career guidance facilities has been lowering the effectiveness of career guidance in schools. Furthermore, the findings revealed that factors like family background, peers and friends, individual’s self-interest and gender influenced students to choose their career aspirations.

In order for students to better achieve their career aspirations, schools have to recognize the significance of career guidance services, setting specific time in school timetable for offering career guidance services and improving career guidance practices. Therefore, professional teacher- counsellors should be prepared from universities and colleges through government efforts in order to ensure career guidance services are offered effectively in schools to facilitate students’ career aspirations.