Influence of Parental Support, Guidance and Councelling on Carrier Choiceamong Senior Secondary School in Gwale Local Government Area Kano State

ABSTRACT
This study investigated the influence of parental support, guidance, and counselling on the career choices of senior secondary school students in Gwale Local Government Area, Kano State. The main objectives were to examine the extent of parental support and guidance, assess the role of professional career counselling, and explore how these influences vary based on student characteristics such as gender, academic performance, and socio-economic background.A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The target population comprised 1,226 senior secondary school students across 20 schools in the LGA. Using stratified random sampling, a sample size of 378 students was selected to ensure representativeness. Data were collected using a structured instrument titled “Influence of Parental Support, Guidance and Counselling on Career Choice Among Students Questionnaire (IPSGCCCSQ)”. The instrument featured Likert-scale items assessing parental involvement, types of guidance, and access to counselling services. The questionnaire's validity was confirmed through expert review, and its reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha.Findings revealed that parental support—especially financial assistance, shared experiences, and encouragement—significantly influences career decisions. Additionally, professional counselling services positively impacted students' ability to make informed career choices; however, access to these services was limited in many schools. The study also found that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and those with higher academic performance received greater levels of parental support.It was recommended that schools strengthen career counselling services, and that parents be actively sensitized on the importance of balanced, interest-based guidance. Government and private stakeholders should also invest in accessible and inclusive career development programs, especially for underserved students, to bridge equity gaps in career guidance.