FACTORS INFLUENCING CAREER CHOICE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KERICHO COUNTY, KENYA
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Date
2025-10
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Publisher
Gretsa University
Abstract
Choosing a career remains one of the most challenging decisions for secondary school students,
as it significantly influences their future livelihood, identity, and success. In Kenya, despite
government initiatives such as career guidebooks and counseling programs, many students
continue to make ill-informed choices, often leading to dissatisfaction, mismatched skills, and
unemployment. The problem arises from limited guidance, parental pressure, peer influence, and
inadequate teacher involvement in career mentoring. l students in Kericho County, focusing on
family background, peer influence, and teachers’ guidance. The research targeting 300 students,
90 teachers, and 150 parents, selected through random sampling. Questionnaires and interviews
were used descriptive statistics, percentages, and charts. family influence played the most
significant role in shaping students’ career decisions, as parents often provided guidance and
acted as role models. Peer influence was found to be the least significant factor, proportion of
students admitting that they considered their friends’ choices. Teacher influence had a moderate
impact, mainly through advice and mentorship, though the absence of updated career guidebooks
limited their effectiveness. The study concludes that career choice is a multifaceted process
shaped by parental advice, teacher guidance, and, to a lesser extent, peer pressure. The study
recommends strengthening career counseling programs in schools, updating career handbooks,
and engaging parents through sensitization forums to reduce undue pressure on students. Further,
teachers should be trained and supported to provide effective career guidance. The findings are
significant to policymakers, educators, parents, and students in promoting informed career
decision-making and reducing mismatches in the labor market
Description
Research project
Keywords
SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Education