Investigation of the Factors Influencing Career Choice in Agriculture and Forestry at the Federal College of Forestry Ibadan, Oyo State

Abstract

The decline in enrollment in forestry and agricultural education at the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan has been a major concern to relevant stakeholders, especially when we consider the importance of forestry and agriculture technical education in addressing the problems of poverty, hunger, and environmental sustainability as spelt out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study focused on the influence of students' demographic factors on the choice of agriculture and forestry in Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan. Descriptive and correlational survey designs were adopted. Census approach was used to include all the students of Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan, with a total of three hundred and sixteen (316) participants. The instrument used to collect data for this study was Students Career Choice Questionnaire (SCCQ) (r=0.84). Data collected were analysed using descriptive and multiple regressions. The result showed that many factors affect students’ choice of study in Federal College of Forestry. The regression analysis also revealed that student’s demographic variable (gender, age, religion, mother’s qualification, father’s qualification, mother’s occupation, and fathers’ occupation) accounted for only 17.2% of variance of students’ choice. It was therefore recommend that various forestry and agricultural agencies should provide ways and means by which agricultural and forestry technical and vocational education campaigns and sensitization could be increased both in urban and rural areas.