Attitude of Students Towards Welding and Fabrication as a Career in Katsina State

This study examines student attitudes towards welding and fabrication as a career in secondary schools and technical colleges in Katsina State, North West Nigeria. Welding and metal fabrication represent critical skills in Nigeria's construction, oil and gas, and manufacturing industries, yet enrolment in welding programmes remains low in many states. Understanding the attitudinal barriers that deter students from choosing welding as a career is essential for developing effective recruitment and retention strategies. The study is anchored on attitude theory and career development frameworks. A descriptive survey design is adopted, drawing 240 students from 20 secondary schools and technical colleges in Katsina, Daura, and Funtua local government areas. A validated questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale assesses attitudes along cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions. Independent t-tests compare attitudes across gender and school type. Findings are expected to reveal predominantly negative attitudes among female students and mixed attitudes among male students, driven by misconceptions about occupational health risks, social status, and career ceilings. The study also explores the influence of career counsellors and teacher attitudes on student career perceptions. Recommendations include career exposure programmes in welding firms, integration of welding professionals into school career days, and safety-focused curriculum content that addresses occupational risk concerns. This study contributes to vocational career development research in North West Nigeria and provides a data foundation for improving welding programme recruitment efforts. Keywords: student attitude, welding and fabrication, career choice, Katsina State, vocational education