INFLUENCE OF CAREER CHOICE ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN GOMBI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ADAMAWA STATE

ABSTRACT This study examined the factors influencing the career choices of Senior Secondary School students in Gombi and Mubi North Local Government Areas of Adamawa State. A survey research design was adopted, and a sample of 160 students was drawn from five randomly selected senior secondary schools through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Career Choice on Students Academic Performance Questionnaire (CCSAPG), which was validated by experts and tested for reliability using Cronbach’s Alpha. The data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while ttest statistics were applied to test hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that factors such as personal interest, teacher guidance, peer influence, media, job opportunities, and cultural or religious beliefs did not significantly determine students’ career choices, as all mean scores fell below the acceptance benchmark of 2.5. However, inferential analysis indicated significant relationships between career choices and external factors (p = 0.023), parental socioeconomic status (p = 0.031), and gender (p = 0.027), though effect sizes were small. This suggests that while students perceive themselves as independent in decision-making, their career aspirations are subtly shaped by family background, economic conditions, and gender norms. The study concludes that students’ career choices are influenced more by underlying socioeconomic and cultural dynamics than by overt personal or institutional factors. It recommends strengthening school-based career counseling, sensitizing parents, expanding scholarship opportunities, and promoting gender-inclusive practices to support informed and equitable career development among adolescents.