Publication
An investigation on students’ educational and occupational aspirations in Brunei Darussalam: Teaching and counselling implications
Abstracts views
5
Views & Download
0
Abstract:
Educational attainment plays an important role in determining an individual’s future social
and economic well-being. By pursuing higher education, students are able to pursue occupational
opportunities that result in outcomes such as higher income, high-status job prospects and better
life-style. Educational aspiration has been linked to occupational aspiration and is considered a
valuable predictor of academic attainment and the first step in the process of career choice.
Students’ educational and occupational aspirations are influenced and shaped by personal,
family and community factors such as family involvement, gender, socio-economic status, parental
level of education, school environment and peers. The varieties of influences on educational and
occupational aspirations are acknowledged in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. Hence,
this systems theory was used as the theoretical framework for the study because it contributes to the
understanding of the sociocultural environment that affects the development of an individual and
highlights the importance of interaction between an individual and the environment progressively
over time.
Most research to date on students’ aspirations is derived from the Western context. Little is
known about Bruneian students’ educational and occupational aspirations. Therefore, this study
aimed to investigate the educational and occupational aspirations of the Year 11 (those re-sitting
their Brunei-Cambridge GCE O-Level) and Lower Six (those who passed their Brunei Cambridge
GCE O-Level) students in Brunei Darussalam.
To achieve the research aim, a mixed methods research design involving three studies was
employed. In Study One, 10 school counsellors were involved in designing the Educational and
Occupational Aspirations Survey Questionnaire (EOASQ). Study Two was a quantitative study
where the EOASQ was administered to 815 students to examine their perceptions of influences on
their educational and occupational aspirations. Study Three, a qualitative study, investigated the
influences on students’ educational and occupational aspirations through focus-group interviews
with 10 groups of students, and individual interviews with 10 school counsellors and nine parents.
This study revealed that students had high educational and occupational aspirations. Most
students wished to achieve Bachelor degrees, Higher National Diplomas and National Diplomas.
The students aspired more to the occupational categories of ‘Professional’ and ‘Technical and
i
associate professional’. An interesting finding of this research was that male and female students
aspire to similar occupations. Some female students were likely to venture into occupations
traditionally held by males (e.g., Science and engineering’ professionals), while some male students
aspired to the ‘College, university and higher education/religious teaching’ and ‘Legal, social and
cultural’ professionals. This study also found little difference between the students’ occupational
aspiration and occupational expectation. Parental total monthly income was not an important
predictor of students’ educational and occupational aspirations. Academic involvement and support
from parents, as well as support and encouragement from teachers, school counsellors, and friends
influenced students’ aspirations. Though students viewed school counsellors as helpful and
accessible, many still lack of information regarding educational and occupational options and
consequently have limited understanding and awareness about the subjects and courses relevant to
their occupational aspirations.
The findings of this study provide new information for stakeholders such as policy makers,
parents, teachers, school counsellors and the community about assisting students to shape their
educational and occupational plans to achieve their aspirations. Effective programmes and
initiatives need to be in place that includes collaboration between teachers and school counsellors,
school and parents, school and the community, as well as the school and the government agencies
and private sectors in an effort to raise awareness, shape and enhance students’ educational and
occupational aspirations. Consequently, these efforts could help to enhance the country’s economy
and competitiveness, and meet the aspiration of the Brunei Vision 2035 that Brunei Darussalam will
be known for its well-educated and highly skilled people, its quality of life, and sustainable and
dynamic economy.
Description:
Date:
2015
Authors:
Nor Zaiham Midawati Abdullah
Publisher:
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE)
