Cecilia Akpana Beshel

2 Publications in AERD

Author Publications

Skill possession and prospective university students' career decisions: Does prior exposure really matter?

By Valentine Joseph Owan

This study investigated the role of students' skills in their career decisions while preparing for university education. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study's population comprised 5,656 Senior Secondary class three (SS III) students distributed across 101 public secondary schools in Ikom Education Zone, Cross River State. A sample of 1,135 SS III students was selected (representing 20% of the population) using the simple random sampling technique. "Skills and Career Choice Checklist (SCCC)," designed by the researchers, was the instrument used for data collection. Frequency counts, percentages, and the Chi-square test of independence were used for data analysis. Findings revealed that many prospective university students had exposure to different skills. The career decisions of prospective students varied according to their skill sets. It was established that the extent to which students' career choices depend on their exposure to skills is significant. It was concluded that prior exposure to skills determines prospective university students' career choices. This study has counselling implications for the proper guidance of students seeking to make career decisions. Career counsellors can use the results of this study to guide students in taking courses related to their skills or the other way around. © 2023 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved.

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Peer Group Influence, Teacher-Student Interaction, and Indiscipline as Predictors of Students' Dropout Tendency in an Evening Continuing Education Programme

By Cecilia Akpana Beshel

The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive relationship of peer group influence, teacher-student interaction and indiscipline to students' dropout tendency in evening continuing education programmes. The context of this study is the southern senatorial district of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study adopted a predictive correlational research design, and the sample comprised 554 students randomly selected from 11 centres in the district. This represents 20% of the total population of students. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire titled: "Social Indicators and Dropout Tendency Scale" (SIDTS). The researchers collected the data that were analysed using Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple linear regression analyses at the.05 level of significance. The results revealed that peer group influence, teacher-student interaction and level of indiscipline collectively and individually predicted dropout tendency among students in evening continuing education programmes. It was recommended, among others, that the teachers discover diverse ways of making their teaching process lively by devising ways of engaging the students in the learning process by forming discussion groups that will promote healthy peer groups, which will increase their eagerness to come to school. © 2022 The authors.

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