Factors influencing choice of courses among NYS servicemen/women; a case study of Nairobi holding unit, Ruaraka, Nairobi

Abstract

Abstract Due to rapid technological advancements and subsequent socio- economic changes young people face competing choices for careers. These careers are built from courses undertaken after formal schooling. Before selecting specific courses to study with the expectation of joining a career, certain influences come to play. Some of the influencing factors are intrinsically housed within the student while others are extrinsic in origin. Chapter one of this report contains a background to the study by offering rationale and citing studies done along the general subject area .The chapter highlights a statement of the problem which aims at determining factors influencing career choices by KCSE graduates, using NYS Nairobi Holding Unit students to provide sample respondents to structured questionnaires. The type of research is descriptive case study. The significance of the research, limitations and assumptions are highlighted in the chapter indicated. Common terms and are defined. Chapter two will explore literature review on what writers on the subject have written on factors that influence choice of courses /careers by secondary school students. A comparative analysis is made on course selections by gender, and their course preferences analyzed. Selected factors influencing choice of courses are categorized into intrinsic and extrinsic. The independent variables are these intrinsic and extrinsic factors while the dependent variable is the course choice .The linking word is influence. Research methodology is covered in chapter three. 2This includes design, population sample and sampling, data collection procedures and analysis techniques. Timeframe, research budget and location of the study is covered in this chapter. Chapter four include data presentation, interpretation and analysis of completed questionnaires administered to students. Tabulated dependent and independent variables are analyzed using tabulation and chart presentations, including use of Likert Scale .Observations are made based on the information. Summary and recommendations based on the research finding are made in chapter five.