EDUPEDIA247

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTINON Background to the study From a historical perspective, guidance and counseling and related theories may be roughly divided into three 50-year periods. From 1850-1899, a period of transformation from an agricultural to an industrial society, the guidance and counseling of young people was based on a moral ethos of hard work and ethical conduct. The basic view was that it was necessary to develop the character of a young person. A corresponding trend is found in education in the form of ‘character development’; the concept of ‘character’ used in this connection may be traced back to the philosopher Aristotle. Guidance counselors in this period were often inspired by religious aims. Guidance and counseling for young people in industrialized cities began in the first half of the 20th century (1900-1949). The aim was to find a job, a new concept that reflected the technological developments of the time. The relation between individual, job, and industry was subjec

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Background to the study In any contemporary society, the heart of the long process of preparing young people for life and work is centered in the educational system (Gesinde, 1977). But it has been observed that in Nigeria generally parental influence and vicarious experiences within one’s community contributes much to this preparatory process. Though the traditional Nigerian society had the problem of building the youth up, yet most adolescents just pick career based on mere likeness for such jobs simply because it entails the wearing of a uniform or otherwise or may be because their parents or a significant other in their lives are involved in such career. They forget the fact that such jobs might have some basic subject requirement. Decision making concerning appropriate choice of career or occupation to take, is the most critical problem area facing students in secondary schools system and young school leavers.  Research findings have revealed that sources