Individual Career Guidance Approach for Science Subject Selection among Public Secondary School Students of Karagwe District, Tanzania

Vaileth Josephat; Dr. Mandila Timothy; Prof. Ladislaus M. Semali

doi:10.18535/ijsrm/v12i10.el01

Abstract

The study investigated how individual career guidance enhances the selection of science subjects among public secondary school students of Karagwe District. Anchored in Expectancy-Value Theory (EVT), the study employed a convergent design within the mixed methods approach. The study targeted 31 heads schools (HSs), 1225 students, and 31 teacher counselors (TCs) in 31 public secondary schools, and one District Education Officer (DSEO). The sample included 120 students, 10 TCs, 10 HSs, and 1 DSEO obtained through simple random, total population, and stratified random sampling techniques. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires, while qualitative data were collected through interview guides and focus group discussion guides whose validity were made certain by research experts in the field of education. The reliability of .894 was established for students questionnaires based on the Likert-type items using Cronbach's Alpha technique while peer debriefing and triangulation methods were used for qualitative data. The quantitative data were descriptively analyzed with the aid of SPSS version 22 while qualitative data were subjected to a thematic analysis that involved familiarization, coding, topic generation, theme review, theme definition and name, and writing up. Ethical guidelines for research were conformed, which included obtaining approval for the study, seeking informed consent, maintaining confidentiality and anonymity, properly attributing sources, and acknowledging papers According to the study, students in Karagwe District have chosen science subjects differently as a result of receiving individualized career counseling. Students appreciate the significance of one-on-one career counseling sessions in helping them define their interests and aspirations in science subjects. The study revealed further that students can better align their goals and receive tailored support by receiving personalized advice and guidance on science subjects. The study came to the conclusion that individual career counseling is a useful tool since teacher counselors are crucial in helping students receive guidance that could boost their interest in and aspirations for science courses. According to the report, teacher counselors should receive more training so they may proactively identify students who are struggling or unsure about their future career prospects and offer them specialized counseling and support.

Keywords

Individual career guidanceteacher counselorcareer pathscience subjects

References

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Cohen, L., ManionL., & Marison,K.(2018).Research Methods in education (8ed).London: RoutlegeGoogle Scholar ↗
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[refR-1] Ajayi, O. B., Moosa, M., & Aloka, P. J. O. (2023). Relationship between Career Interest and Career Decision-Making of Grade 12 Learners in Township Secondary Schools in South Africa. Athens Journal of Education, 10(2), 307–322.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-2] Ali, A., & Ullah, A. (2021). The Role of Teachers in Career Guidance of Students at Secondary Level in Pakistan. Journal of Social Sciences Review. https://doi.org/10.54183/jssr.v1i2.9.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-3] Alloph, J. M., & Tibategeza, E. (2022). The Contribution of Career Guidance Service in Public Secondary Schools towards Professional Training: A Case of Magu District, Mwanza. International Journal of Humanities and Education Development (IJHED), 4(1), Article 1.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-4] Alloph, J., & Tibategeza, E. (2022). The Contribution of Career Guidance Service in Public Secondary Schools towards Professional Training: A Case of Magu District, Mwanza. Journal of Humanities and Education Development. https://doi.org/10.22161/jhed.4.1.12.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-5] Amoah, S. A., Kwofie, I., & Kwofie, F. A. A. (2020). The School Counsellor and Students’ Career Choice in High School: The Assessor’s Perspective in a Ghanaian Case. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(23), 57–65. https://eric.ed.gov/?Id=EJ1079015Google Scholar ↗

[refR-6] Assey, E. S., & Babyegeya, E. (2022). The Challenges Facing Effective Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Community-Based Secondary Schools in Tabora Region. American Journal of Education and Practice.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-7] Cohen, L., ManionL., & Marison,K.(2018).Research Methods in education (8ed).London: RoutlegeGoogle Scholar ↗

[refR-8] Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, P. N. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (4th Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-9] Dodd, V., Hanson, J., & Hooley, T. (2022). Increasing students’ career readiness through career guidance: Measuring the impact with a validated measure. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 50(2), 260–272.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-10] Ettu, T. U., & Oyadeyi, J. B. (2023). Influence of Personality Variables on Career Choices of Senior Secondary School Students in Lagos State: Implications for Career Guidance in Post Covid-19 Era. KIU Journal of Humanities, 7(4), Article 4.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-11] Holt-White, E., Montacute, R., & Tibbs, L. (2022). Paving the Way: Careers Guidance in Secondary Schools. Journal of Education, 4(4), 12.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-12] Magesa, F. (2022). Reflections of science students’ career-related needs on secondary school curriculum in Tanzania. Integrity Journal of Education and Training, 4(6), 15.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-13] Makwinya, N. M., McKinnon, D. H., & Lummis, G. W. (2022). Depicting science teachers’ concerns regarding the Tanzanian inquiry-based science curriculum. International Journal of Science Education, 44(12), 1978–1993.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-14] Maree, J. G. (2022). Using Integrative Career Construction Counselling to Promote Autobiographicity and Transform Tension into Intention and Action. Education Sciences, 12(2), Article 2.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-15] Maree, J. G., & Magere, G. M. (2023). The influence of group career construction counselling on Tanzanian high school students’ career decision-making difficulties. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 28(1), 2190809.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-16] Mkulu, D. (2020). Role of Holistic Education in Empowering University Students for Industrial Development in Tanzania. Journal of Humanities and Education Development. https://doi.org/10.22161/jhed.2.3.4.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-17] Mmari, J., Kovács, Z., & Kálmán, C. (2022). Education sector policies and their role in the integration of workplace learning and higher education: A case of Tanzania’s higher technical and engineering education. Journal of Adult Learning, Knowledge and Innovation. https://doi.org/10.1556/2059.2021.00051.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-18] Ngussa, B. M., & Charles, R. K. (2019). Perception of students regarding the role of teachers and parents on career choice preparedness: A case of secondary schools in Meru District, Tanzania. Integrity Journal of Education and Training, 3(4), 13.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-19] Nyenga, A. (2021). Students’ attitudes towards learning chemistry using mobile phone simulations: A case of two secondary schools in Dar es Salaam Region. Theses & Dissertations.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-20] Obiagu, A. (2023). “Not Motivated but Frustrated”: Preservice Teachers’ Career Choice Motivations and Professional Identity in an African Context. Current Issues in Education, 24(1).Google Scholar ↗

[refR-21] Otwine, A. T., Matagi, L., Kiweewa, J. M., & Ainamaani, H. E. (2022). Efficacy of career guidance and counselling among secondary schools in Uganda. African Journal of Career Development, 4(1), Article 1.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-22] Tolbert, D. (2020). Girls can do STEAM too—Investigating the influence of a STEAM career awareness workshop on Tanzanian and Zimbabwean secondary school girls’ perception of careers in STEAM. Global Journal of Engineering Education, 22(2), 9.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-23] Uche, N. (2020). Influence of Counseling Services on Students Career Choice in Secondary Schools: Implication for Career Counseling. Social Development, 8(3), 10.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-24] Zhang, H., Couch, S., Estabrooks, L., Perry, A., & Kalainoff, M. (2023). Role models’ influence on student interest in and awareness of career opportunities in life sciences. International Journal of Science Education, Part B, 13, 381 - 399. https://doi.org/10.1080/21548455.2023.2180333DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗