Career Info, Counseling And Occupational Choices Among Learners In Secondary In Mbarara District, Uganda

Abstract

There is an increasing demand for career info and counselling services worldwide. Push and pull factors arising from labour market reforms and modernization of education and training systems in developing and middle-income countries call for the improvement of career info and counselling provision. Thus this study intended to determine the association between career info and occupational choices among secondary schools in Mbarara district, Uganda. 11,316 form six learners aged 17-20 took part in the study. This study adapted a causal-comparative research design. Simple random sampling was used to select 383 participants. Researcher-made questionnaires were used to collect data. Data analysis was done using Pearson‘s correlation coefficient r with the help of R (R Core Team, 2015). The results of the study showed that there was a positive significant association between occupation choice and career info and counselling (r= 0.127, p{0.019} <0.05). Counsellors in schools need professional training and skills to enable them to use standardized assessment instruments including the Self-Directed Search and Strong Interest Inventory to simplify and clarify learners’ personality, career interests, ability and principles. Again, career resource libraries with job search webs and manuals and information on employers should be established in secondary schools.