Survey of Career Aspirations and Vocational Education Uptake Among Secondary School Students in Edo State

This study surveyed the career aspirations of secondary school students in Edo State, South South Nigeria, and examined how these aspirations relate to enrolment in vocational education subjects. The mismatch between students' career aspirations, which are often dominated by professional and entertainment careers, and the reality of labor market opportunities has been identified as a root cause of low vocational education uptake. A descriptive survey design was used, involving 450 SS2 and SS3 students from 18 schools in four local government areas. Career Aspiration and Vocational Interest Inventories were administered. Results showed that only 14 percent of respondents expressed direct interest in vocational careers, with medicine, law, and entertainment cited as top aspirations. However, when informed about earning potential and entrepreneurship opportunities in vocational trades, 41 percent revised their interest ratings upward, suggesting that information deficits were a significant factor in low vocational uptake. Parental occupation, school environment, and social media exposure were identified as key influencing variables. The study recommends establishing school-based vocational information centres, integrating career education into the formal school timetable from JSS1, and inviting successful vocational entrepreneurs to speak at school assemblies. These findings provide evidence that targeted career information interventions can meaningfully shift vocational education uptake in South South Nigeria. Keywords: career aspirations, vocational education, Edo State, student interest, South South Nigeria.