HIGHER EDUCATION PREFERENCE : A DEMANDING AREA OF INVESTIGATION

Dr.BAIJU K.NATH
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Educaion, University of Calicut
[email protected]

and

ANJU PRAKASH K
M.Ed. (2014 – 15 batch)
Dept. of Educaion, University of Calicut
 2

In higher education preference ' the preference ' is an

act of living one thing better than the other. Preference can
be in degrees. Preference can ranges from very high to very
low. It can ever change from positive preference to negative
preference and vice versa. The other words connected with
preference are choice, interest and aspiration. By the higher
education preference, the investigator means Preference of
higher secondary students as choice of higher studies beyond the
instructional level of school, which is provided by colleges,
universities, graduate schools, professional schools and other
degree granting institutions. In the present study higher
education preference means preference of higher secondary students
by completion of the course at higher secondary level, that can be
general education , professional education , technical education
etc.
Parental involvement became an area of academic investigation and
general discussion.
Roe (1956) schematized a theory of vocational choice that is
explained in terms of child parent relationship. Her hypotheses
are based on the assumption that parental attitudes and home
atmosphere in early childhood are crucial forces in determining
adult choice.
Maccoby and martin (1983) described parental involvement as the
degree to which a parent is committed to his or her role as a
parent and to the fostering of optimal child development. it can
be in the different aspects of life like character formation,
career option and selection of spouse. The role of parental
involvement in children’s education has become a central issue in
educational policy making. The research findings of the past
decades support the existence of a positive relationship between
parental involvement and educational success of the students
especially in the elementary school days.
The home, being the first socializing agency of the young
child has profound in education also. It indicates the culture,
specific values and traditions in to his makeup. Home is
considered as the psychological laboratory within which human
nature is formulated. Goo parents produce good students. The
 3

child's attitude towards school, attitude towards education etc

are fashioned to a great extent by his family.
It is that in January 2013, the Philippines has 7.1%
unemployment rate, the highest in the countries from the
Southeast Asian nations and from which, 16.9 % of which are
college graduates. Misfit graduates are one of the considered
reasons why the country has high unemployment and
underemployment rate. The reasons could be either that the
produced course of graduates misfit the demand of the present
economy, or the graduates do not poses the characteristics
required by the industries in need. This could be due to the
wrong choice of course taken by most of the college students
brought about by unguided decision making in choosing
courses. This is seen through reports that mentioned that
high percentage of unemployment and underemployment in the
country is attributed to the inadequacy of skills of some of
the graduates and not meeting the competencies needed by
companies. To be able to find ways to lessen misfit
qualification of graduates to the needed workforce of
companies and institutions, the government, particularly the
Department of Education finds ways to elevate the quality of
graduates before even reaching the collegiate level. This is
one of the reasons why the government implemented the K-12
program in the educational system. One of the objectives of
the Department of Education’s K-12 program is to produce
graduates who are equipped with knowledge and skills to be
productive citizens and an additional work force to promote
economic development in the even after high school.
There are different factors that affect students’ choice
of course in college. One of this is family related factors.
Study revealed that the immigrants and non-immigrants rely
heavily on their families’ decision-making. Students cope by
following their parents’ advice. They also have to cope with
an expectation of financially supporting the family upon
completing their education. Studies from other Asian
countries also show parents’ impact in decision making of
 4

students when it comes to students’ course preference.

Another study(Nancy,1960) highlighted that parental
involvement have positive impact on adolescents’ education
and career choice. Furthermore, it is reported that parents
are deeply involved and influential to their high-achieving
children’s college choices. The report also found open
houses, dialogue with college friends, alumni, and admitted-
student programs are extremely influential to students. The
report claimed these sources are not well known, but very
powerful to student’s decision making for their college. The
study also found 26% of sampled students paid a specialist or
advisor during the college decision process. The studies
presented are important to the study since the studies
explain the importance of taking parent's advice and
permission in choosing a college course.
Aside from family related factors, economic factors which
includes the employability and availability of job in the
future is also considered by students. Employability, i.e.,
the realistic feasibility of being employed in a stable job,
then becomes an important factor in career decision-making.
Coming from a collective culture, immigrant parents and
children seek careers that will support the whole family.
Moreover, it is found that Asian American men and women tend
to be more interested in technical fields, the physical
sciences, and non-enterprising business positions over
artistic, social, or socially interactive business careers.
Aside from economic factors, exposure of students to career
related technical and academic subjects also known as
elective subjects , also helps in students decision making in
career choices in college. It was revealed that career
technical Education (CTE) was perceived positively by middle
school and high school counsellors, and the need for career
awareness should begin in a student’s early years before high
school.
The involvement of family, school administrators and
guidance counsellor to help students make good career choice
 5

in the future is emphasized in the study who mentioned that

parents, teachers, and school counsellors are all involved in
students’ career decision-making process. The researchers
suggested that the “American education career development
plan” is to prepare students for the next formal learning
experience with little opportunity in career development
activities, and students are simply encouraged to attend
school until they can go no further.

Singh (1944) studied the job preference of male and

female students. The investigator used job preference scale
to understand the job preference of male and female students.
The study found that the male and female students did not
differ significantly but for the railway services, factory
workers and social worker professions. They showed different
job preferences. For the railway services, factory work and
social works, the male students showed better choice than the
female.
Swift (1952), conducted a study to find out the relationship
between family environment and performance in school. The
study found that five aspects of family environment namely
economic characteristics, family literacy, occupational
structure, parental educational experience and attitude
affect the performance in school.
Kapur. J N(1975), conducted a study on current issues in
higher education in India, the study found that a number of
employers are willing to take students who have received the
present type of education. They do not complain that the
students have not received job oriented education they are
supposed to have received, has not actually been received by
them. The employers want the universities to give more
intensive training and raise their standards rather than
change their direction. This raising of standards, however
also depends on the social and economic atmosphere and the
resources the society is prepared to invest in higher
education.
 6

Seddy S C (1983) conducted a study on Trends in professional

education among women. An attempt has been made in this study
to analyse the progress made by women in the field of
professional education during the period 1960-61 to 1976- 77
and also study the popularity of different types of
professional courses among women. In this study stage wise
analysis for under graduate and post graduate courses relates
to the period 1965- 66 to 1966- 67 was used. The study found
that women's share in professional education has increased
both in absolute numbers as well as their percentage share to
total enrolment. Women's first preference was education
whereas the corresponding first preference for men is
commerce and Business management. More and more number of
women have been joining different types of non traditional
professional courses like commerce and business management,
engineering technology, architecture and law. commerce and BM
is the most popular course among women after education.
Ujagar (1983) investigated professional choice by university
students: a sociological perspective. The main objectives of
the study are to ascertain appropriate choice of professions
and to ascertain the younger generation's trend towards
vocation. In this study the investigator used percentage
analysis, chi square test and t test to find out the
significance between expected and the observed responses. The
study found that the trend of response favours IAS as the
weighted score is the highest , second place is given to
university research and teaching, no response is given in
favour of politics, art, law agriculture and IPS are at the
bottom.
Pillai& Ayishabi (1986), conducted a study to investigate
whether attitude towards education of secondary school pupils
differ according to the caste of students. And whether sex
and locale of caste groups influence their attitude towards
education. The investigators collected data using attitude
scale. The major findings of the study are significant
difference existed among backward caste, foreword caste and
 7

scheduled caste pupils. And there is no interactive effect of

sex and caste on attitude towards education.
John, E (1987) conducted a study on Influence on the
intention to re-enter higher education. The study examines
the influence of previous college involvement, organizational
characteristics, early career experiences and current self
concept on the intention of college dropouts to resume their
college education. Preliminary analysis, Ordinary Least
Square regression were used to estimate the coefficients of
the structural equations defining the model. The study found
that only two of the five variables have a direct influence
on adult's intention to resume their college education, both
the size and public- private character of the employing
organization have significant direct effects on the intention
of adult men and women to return to college. The study also
found that extrinsic job satisfaction has a strong direct
effect for women only, where as income, job, prestige, status
and intrinsic job satisfaction all have significant direct
effect for men only.
Usha (1988), conducted a study on levels of goal perception
of vocational higher secondary school children in Kerala. The
main objectives of this study are to find out the levels of
goal perception of vocational higher secondary school
subjects based on sex, locale and type of course enrolled in.
The major findings of this study are the vocational school
students differ in their level of goal perception. Boys were
found to have higher level of goal perception than girls.
However rural and urban subjects did not differ with respect
to their level of goal perception . Students enrolled in
different courses differ in their level of goal perception.
Chandana (1990) investigated the attitudes of high school
students towards career choice process and the relationship
between selected psychological variables and an aspect of the
carer development. The study found that factors related to
carer maturity may differ for male and female and that there
is relationship between self concept and career choice
 8

attitudes of adolescents.
Swami(1990), conducted a critical study of women's education
in Vidarbha from 1947- 1987. The investigator used
historical-cum – survey method. The study revealed that at
the higher education level , the gap between the number of
educated boys and girls widened. The proportion of men and
women in college education was 3:1. The number of girls
taking general education was more than those taking technical
and vocational education.
Sundararajan (1993) investigated vocational preference of
the higher secondary students in chambaran district. The
investigator used rating scale of vocational preferences to
understand the significance of difference in percentages in
respect of the three top ranking vocations, that is medical,
engineering and district collectorship, under the most
preferred response. The study found that the boys and girls
did not differ significantly with regard to their preferences
on three vocations namely the medical, engineering and
district collector. As regard the aided and govt school
students, there was no association between them and their
most preferred third vocations viz the district collector,
but not so in respect of the first two vocation.
Sarafunnisa (2003), conducted a study on attitude of parents
towards higher education of girls in Malappuram district. In
this study the investigator use general data sheet, scale of
parents attitude towards higher education of girls and
statistical techniques to collect data on attitude of parents
towards higher education of girls. The study found that the
parents of Malappuram district have only moderate attitude
towards girls higher education, attitude towards girls higher
education among Muslim parents is lower than that of Hindus
and Christians and the attitude of low socio- economic status
group is less than that of high and average socio-economic
status groups.
Jesla (2004) conducted a study on Career awareness, career
planning and career beliefs of higher secondary school
 9

students of Kerala. In this study the investigator used

career awareness inventory, estimation of percentage, chi-
square test and coefficient of contingency to find out the
level of career awareness among higher secondary school
students and to know whether the career beliefs of higher
secondary school students and their parents are dependent. It
was found that there is no significant difference in the
percentage of higher secondary school students in the career
awareness among relevant subsamples based on gender, subject
and school management. It was also found that the career
beliefs of higher secondary school students and their parents
are highly dependent.
Shajimon (2005), studied the vocational preference of
higher secondary school students in Malappuram district. In
this study he used vocational preference scale , general data
sheet and statistical techniques to collect data on the
vocational preference of higher secondary students. The study
found out that the public sector is the most preferred sector
of vocation, self employment is still an unattractive option.
For boys, foreign sector is preferred than private and co-
operative sector.
Ambili(2007), investigated the vocational interest of higher
secondary school students with different levels of self
esteem. The main objectives of the study were to find out the
vocational interests of higher secondary school students with
different levels of self esteem and to find out the pattern
of vocational interest evolving out of self esteem. In order
to find out these the investigator use strong Campbell
interest inventory , self esteem inventory , socio-economic
status scale and statistical techniques. It was found that
the vocational interests of higher secondary school students
vary with different levels of self esteem. Students with high
self esteem are open to adventurous vocations, students with
average self esteem tend to remain in familiar jobs. But
students with low self esteem are interested in jobs
involving physical exertion.
 10

Anaswarya (2008), conducted a study on career decision

making of higher secondary school students of Kerala. In this
study the investigator used preliminary analysis, percentage
analysis and statistical techniques to understand the mostly
preferred careers among higher secondary students and to
analyse the main reason for their career preference. The
study found that engineering, medical, computer, IT,
academic, defence, law and order are the five mostly
preferred careers of science students. Their parents
preference were also found to follow the same order. The
commerce students prefer accounting, banking, insurance,
business , IAS, IPS and IFS . Humanities students preferred
in the order academic, IAS,IPS,IFS, media, defence, law and
order and computer/IT. She also found that the most of the
parents showed compatibility with their child's career
preference.
Hafsamol (2008), investigated the influence of parental
involvement in vocational preference of secondary school
students of Kerala. Investigator used parental involvement
scale and statistical techniques to find out the effect of
the parental involvement in the vocational preference of the
secondary school students and to find out the influence of
socio- economic factors like gender, caste, education of
father, occupation of father, occupation of mother, education
of mother and economic status of the family on parental
involvement on secondary school students. The study found
that parents have no influence on their children in their
career preference of finance and accounting branches like
banking accounting etc. Parents play no role in the
vocational preference of their children. Gender, caste ,
occupation, economic status of the family and education of
father have no influence on parental involvement in Kerala
secondary school students preference, there is significant
effect of education of mother on parental involvement of
secondary school students of Kerala.
Zeenath(2009), investigated the attitude towards higher
 11

education among higher secondary school girls of Malappuram

district. The main objectives of the study were to find out
the extent of the attitude of girls towards higher education
for total sample and relevant subsample. In order to find out
whether there exist any significant difference in the
attitude of higher secondary girls towards higher education.
She used general data sheet, scale of girls attitude towards
higher education and analysis of variance. It was found that
majority of the students are having an average level of
attitude towards higher education. And there exists
significant difference in the attitude between the subsamples
based on type of management, educational qualifications,
occupation of the parent and religion. But type of school,
locality of the school and income of the parent does not
influence the attitude of the students towards higher
education.
Singh S.K. (2010), studied Higher Education in India:
grassroots reality and India. the main objectives of the
study is to find out the new challenges of higher education
in India. It was found that appointment of poor teaching
faculty in the institutions of higher education, poor quality
of education, bureaucratization in education, lack of
professional attitude of teachers, lack of social
accountability and irresponsible functioning of quality
maintaining and norm fixing bodies are the important real
challenges for higher education system in India.

Conclusion
The studies in the area of higher education preference
are very scarce as seen by the review of relevant literature.
The studies showing significance of family, parents,
attitude, etc on choice of vocation are the areas explored.
Hence, the ares of higher education preference is a major
area to be explored further.

REFERENCE
 12

Ambili,P.(2007).Vocational Interest of Higher secondary

students With different levels of self esteem,
Unpublished Med dissertation, Calicut University.

Anaswary,V. (2008). A study on career decision making of

higher secondary school students of Kerala, unpublished
Med dissertation, Calicut University.

Sarafunnisa. (2003), attitude of parents towards higher

education of girls in Malappuram district, unpublished
Med dissertation , Calicut University.

Shajimon,P.K..(2005). Vocational Preference Of Higher

secondary Students In Malappuram District.
Unpublished M.Ed dissertation. Calicut University.

Sharma R N,Sharma R K,(2002). Problems Of Higher

Education In India, Atlantic publishers, Newdelhi.

Sharma,B.A.V.,Prasad,D.R.,&satyanarayana.P.
(1983).Research Methods In Social Sciences.
Sterling Publishers private limited.

Singh ,S K.(2010,march). Higher Education in India:

grassroots reality and challenges, University news,
Vol-48.

Singh,V. (1994). Job preference of male and female

students, Indian educational abstracts,2- 14.

Smart, J S, pascarella, E T.(1987). Influences on the

 13

intention to re-enter higher education. The journel of

higher education, Ohio state university press.

Sundararajan, S.(1993). Vocational preference of the

higher secondary students, Indian educational
abstracts, 1-19.

Usha.(1988).Levels of goal perception of vocational

higher secondary school children in Kerala, Unpublished
Med dissertation, Calicut University.

Zeenath.(2009). Attitude Towards higher Education among

Higher secondary School Girls Of Malappuram District.
Unpublished M.Ed dissertation. Calicut University.