EDUCATIONAL INTEREST AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A GENDER-BASED STUDY

Abstract

The senior secondary stage is an important period in the educational and personal development of students because decisions taken during this stage are closely connected with higher education and future career pathways. Students differ in their level of interest in educational activities, subjects and learning experiences, and such differences may be associated with the clarity and strength of their career aspirations. Gender may also be relevant because male and female students can experience different educational opportunities, expectations and social influences while forming career goals. The present study was designed to examine educational interest and career aspirations among senior secondary school students with special reference to gender. The study was conducted in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh using a descriptive-correlational survey design. A sample of 200 senior secondary school students, comprising 100 male and 100 female students studying in Classes XI and XII, was considered for the study. Educational Interest Record developed by V. P. Bansal and D. N. Srivastava and Career Aspiration Scale developed by Sarita Anand were considered appropriate for measuring the variables. Mean, standard deviation, independent-samples t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used for analysis. The illustrative results indicated significant gender differences in educational interest and career aspiration, with female students obtaining comparatively higher mean scores. Educational interest was also found to have a positive relationship with career aspiration among the total sample as well as within male and female groups. The findings highlight the importance of developing students’ academic interests and providing equitable career guidance at the senior secondary level.