Students‟ Choice of Business Studies as Programme of study: The Case of Senior High Schools in the Wa Municipality

Abstract

Making a career choice is a major decision phase in every students' life. Students have to consider several factors before making a decision as to which programme to pursue at high school. The purpose for the study was to find out the factors (extrinsic and intrinsic) that influence students' choice of business studies as programme of study in the senior high schools. The study employed descriptive survey design.Using census, 95 students were employed to respond to the survey questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential (independent t-test) statistics. The study found self-interest (M=2.85; SD=0.79) in the subject and ability to progress (M=3.06; SD=0.83) in educational career to tertiary institutions as the most influential intrinsic factors students consider in making a decision of programme choice. Thepossibility of getting high pay job after graduation was the most influential extrinsic factor students consider in a making choice of business studies programme. Gender was however, found not to have significant influence on the choice of a programme of study in the senior high school. Based on the findings, it was therefore recommended that the Ministry of Education through National Council for Curriculum and Assessment should place premium on student's interest (self-motivation in the subject) in designing the business studies curricula at the high school level; Equally, the nursing and teacher training colleges in Ghana should allow all high school business studies graduates equal access to admission.