Factors Affecting Vocational Aspirations Among Secondary School Students In Nasarawa Local Government Area Of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

The study investigated the factors affecting vocational aspirations of Secondary School students in Nasarawa Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The sample comprised 700 respondents derived from 34 Secondary Schools (26 public schools, 6 private schools and 2 voluntary agency schools) in Nasarawa L.G.A. through stratified random sampling. The instrument used was questionnaire, which was administered to the respondents. Three null hypotheses were formulated and tested by applying the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient at .05 level of significance. The findings indicated that two hypotheses were rejected, while one was accepted. The data was also subjected to simple percentage to ease analyses of other variables. Further interpretations of the findings showed that there was no significant difference between parental socio-economic status and students’ vocational aspirations; there were positive and significant differences between parental level of educational attainment and environmental factors on students’ vocational aspirations. Based on the findings, recommendations such as the need for education providers to provide schools with adequate learning environments; parents to take the educational and vocational challenges holly in collaboration with governments; and parents should assist in the overall vocational aspirations of their children.