Does Self-Efficacy have a Relationship with Career Aspiration? A Study among Secondary School Students in Anambra State

Aims: In Anambra state, Nigeria, making a choice of career has remained a constant challenge for many students, especially those in the senior secondary who are on the verge of making a choice of career. This study investigated academic self-efficacy as predictor of achievement career aspiration of secondary school students in Anambra State, Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study while two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance.

Methodology: The study adopted a correlation research design. The study was carried out in Anambra State. The sample 2,700 SS1 and SS 2 students were selected from a population of 32,450 senior secondary school students. Two research instruments were used for data collection. These are: Career Aspiration Scale (CAS) and Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES). The internal consistency reliability of the instruments was established using Cronbach Alpha statistics. The results are as follows: CAS 0.891; ASES 0.842. Copies of the questionnaire were distributed and retrieved through direct delivery method. Data collected were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Simple linear regression analysis was used in answering research questions and testing the hypotheses.

Results: The finding of the study revealed among others that academic self-efficacy of the secondary school students is not a significant predictor of their career aspiration.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that academic self-efficacy of secondary school students is not a significant predictor of their achievement career, leaderships and educational aspiration. It was recommended that Guidance Counsellors working in secondary schools should organise workshops that will be geared towards enhancing students’ academic self-efficacy and help them in aspiring for careers that are in line with their academic self-efficacy.