PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON CAREER CHOICE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ENUGU SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigated parental influence on career choice of secondary school students in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State. The sample comprised of 250 students randomly selected from 3 government and 2 private schools in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State. A questionnaire was constructed for each respondent by the researcher and administered to elicit responses from the respondents. From the analysis of the data collected, the findings of the study show that there is significant influence of parents’ level of education on student’s career choice, there is also significant influence of parents’ socio-economic status and occupational background on the career choice of students. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made and it was concluded that parents should educate their children on how to make a career choice and not impose on them their own preferred career choice.