Personal interest as a determinant of career choice in home science education programme offered in Kenyan universities

Abstract

The process of choosing a career path has been a difficult task to students. Students pursuing Home Science Education programmes in the universities have faced difficulties of choosing careers. This study sought to establish whether personal interest is a determinant on choice of careers in Home Science Education programmes in the Universities in Kenya. This is because students always face challenges when making their choices. Therefore, this study specifically sought to determine whether students chose their programme as a result of their personal interest. The study was guided by the Social Cognitive Career Theory that explores how career choices are made by self-efficacy, outcome expectations and personal goals. This study adopted the Convergent Parallel mixed method design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study was conducted in Uasin Gishu and Kiambu counties which have universities with programmes that train Home Science educators. This study adopted purposive sampling technique to select two universities offering the Home Science education programmes where 254 students were selected from a population of 420 students and 2 Heads of Department/Chairs of Department took part in the study. Data for the study was obtained by using questionnaires, interview schedules and focus group discussion guides. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software and then presented using distribution tables and graphs. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically then used to compare with that of quantitative data. Respondents in this study chose Home Science Education programme because of their personal interest in the programme which emanated as a result of its relationship to their career interests 93.3%, availability of wide careers in Home Science 94.9%, their background in Home Science subject 85.8% and passion of enrolling in the programme at the university 85.8%. The study recommends that personal interest among students and in particular individuals should be cultivated early on in life and in schools right from the onset of schooling. Home science educationist should be at the forefront in nurturing students to help them realize their potential thus developing their interests in the course.