THE INFLUENCE OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING ON VOCATIONAL CHOICE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AKOKO NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE

This study examined the influence of guidance and counselling on vocational choice of secondary school students in Akoko North East local government area of Ondo State. Four research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study and achieve the purpose of the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Sample size of the study comprises of twenty five (25) students each randomly selected from two public schools and two private schools from two local government area in Ondo State totalling 200 students in Ondo State through the use of simple random sampling technique. Structured questionnaire duly validated were used for data collection. The finding of the study revealed that students are aware of the importance of Guidance and Counselling in relation with their vocational choice and provision of necessary information that will aid them in taking the right decision and the subject combination that suit their ability and potentials. The study concludes that the parental status of adolescent is a strong factor on the impact of Guidance and Counselling on adolescent vocational choice because home is the primary socialization agent of the society, and as such the level of parent’s qualification, exposure, occupation and financial strength do influence their children or students vocational choice. It was 9 therefore recommended that career counsellor or teacher counsellor must create enabling environment for adequate career talk for adolescent during their junior class before moving to senior class so as to decide base on their abilities and not peer pressure influence.