Factors limiting Career Choice Among Grade 12 Visually Impaired School Leavers in Zambia
Date
2011-05-30
Authors
Mulenga, Chulumanda Benson
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Abstract
The study examined the factors that limit career choice among grade 12 visually
impaired school leavers in Zambia. The objectives of the study were to determine if lack of information on career choice is a limiting factor among grade 12 school leavers in Zambia, to find out if the socio-economic status of the family limit career choice among Grade 12 visually impaired school leavers, to examine if the geographical location of the school attended impacted on career choice and to establish if inadequate job opportunities in Zambia is a limiting factor in Career choice among Grade 12 visually impaired school leavers. The researcher used a survey as his research design. The target population for the study included visually impaired basic school teachers, visually impaired telephone switchboard operators and School Counsellors. The sample consisted of forty-eight (48) respondents, twenty (20) visually impaired basic school teachers, twenty (20) visually impaired telephone switchboard operators from Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces and eight (8) School Counsellors from eight high school units
for the visually impaired spread throughout the country. Purposive sampling was used
to arrive at the School Counsellors while snowball was used to get the visually impaired respondents. In collecting data, questionnaires were administered to the School Counsellors while interviews were administered to the visually impaired respondents. These instruments were piloted before they were used in the study. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods were used while tables were used in the presentation of data. The findings of the study revealed that lack of information on career guidance was one of the limiting factors in career choice among Grade 12 visually impaired school leavers. Other limiting factors for career choice among the visually impaired school leavers included low socio-economic status of the family, poor combination of subjects taken at
school, inadequate vocational training institutions, inadequate job opportunities for the visually impaired and lack of supportive policies and legislation. Geographical location of the school attended by Grade 12 visually impaired school leavers was not a significant factor in Zambia.
In view of the findings, it was recommended that the government should create more
vocational and rehabilitation centres for people with visual impairment. The government should also come up with career guidance programmes for visually impaired school leavers and a deliberate policy and legislation on the employment of people with visual impairment. Moreover, children from low socio-economic status families should be given financial and material support by government so that they have equal chances in pursuing their career aspirations as their sighted peers.
Description
Keywords
Career , Career Choice , Visually Impaired School Leavers