Students’ Attitude Toward Biology and Its Influence on Career Choice in Imo State Secondary Schools

This study investigated the relationship between students' attitudes toward Biology and their career choices in senior secondary schools in Imo State, Nigeria. The declining interest in biology-related careers among secondary school graduates has implications for sectors including medicine, agriculture, and environmental management, highlighting the importance of understanding attitudinal drivers at the point of subject engagement. A descriptive correlational survey design was employed. The sample comprised 400 SS3 Biology students drawn from public and private secondary schools in Owerri Municipal, Orlu, and Okigwe Local Government Areas. A validated Biology Attitude Scale and a Career Preference Inventory were administered as research instruments. Reliability coefficients of 0.80 and 0.77 were obtained respectively. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's product-moment correlation were used for data analysis. Results showed a significant positive relationship between favourable attitudes toward Biology and preference for science-based career pathways, including medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, and environmental science. Students with access to functional laboratories and dynamic teaching reported more positive attitudes. Gender differences in attitude scores were minimal but present in favour of female students in health-related career preferences. Recommendations included classroom strategies to build positive science identity, integration of career counselling into Biology instruction, and use of role models in biology-related professions. Keywords: student attitude, Biology, career choice, Imo State, secondary schools.