INFLUENCE OF TECHNOLOGIES ON CAREER CHOICE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GWER-WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the influence of technologies on the career choice of secondary school students in Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The purpose was to determine students’ awareness of career-related technologies, the extent to which technology influences their career decisions, and the challenges they face in accessing and utilizing such technologies. The study population comprised all senior secondary school students in the selected public schools within the LGA. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. A structured questionnaire containing 25 items was used to collect data from a population of 194 students, and sampling was not done. Data collected were analyzed using mean scores with a cut-off point of 2.50 to determine the level of influence. The findings revealed that students had low awareness of career-related technologies, and that technology had little or no influence on their career choices, as most mean values were below the decision benchmark. It was also found that students faced major challenges in accessing and using technology for career decision-making, such as poor internet access, lack of digital devices, inadequate ICT facilities in schools, and insufficient digital skills. The study concluded that technology currently has minimal influence on the career choices of secondary school students in Gwer-West LGA due to infrastructural and educational limitations. It is recommended that government and education stakeholders integrate digital career guidance into the school curriculum, provide necessary ICT infrastructure, and organize digital literacy and career awareness programs to improve student access to technology-driven career information.