Career self-concept of students and school-based career guidance and counseling :

Abstract

Finding out students’ career self-concepts is difficult due to the poor career transition between school and work, even though most secondary schools in Uganda provide career guidance and counselling. To gather information, we used the Career Decision Making survey level 2 in four prestigious secondary schools in Mbarara City. A total of 161 sixth graders gave their consent, took part in the study, and finished it. The study discovered a significant correlation between students’ career self-concept and career counselling and guidance (r = .182, p < 0.05). The students’ self-concept, however, revealed a bias in favour of conventional domains regarding career choices, school subject combinations, and career interests. There were no gender differences, but we did find a negative self-concept about one’s abilities and work values. We thus support thorough career guidance and counselling in secondary schools to assist students in achieving SDGs 4 and 8 and improve their career self-concept.