The Incentives for Career Choice among Students in the Colleges of Education in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, (Akwacross), Nigeria

This piece of research work is designed to assess the incentives influencing career choices among students in Colleges of Education located in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. Specifically, the study focuses on students at Akwa Ibom State College of Education and the College of Education, Akampa, Cross River State. Six (6) research questions and six corresponding null hypotheses are formulated to guide the study. The population of the study consists of all level one hundred students across various departments within these two specified Colleges of Education.. A sample size of 250 students is to be randomly selected from the study population through random sampling techniques. The instrument to be used for data collection is a Questionnaire, which will be developed by the researcher. To ensure validity, the instrument is to be reviewed by a measurement and evaluation expert and two experienced educators representing relevant academic departments from the participating institutions. The Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (PPMCC) is to be used to measure the reliability of the instrument, with an expected target yield of a reliability coefficient of 0.92. The data collected are to be analysed using mean rating and standard deviation to answer the research Questions. Z-test statistics shall be used to test the null hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The study anticipates revealing that factors such as personal interest significantly influence students’ career choices within these colleges. Other variables, including innate abilities, acquired skills, and perceived career prospects, may also emerge as key incentives. Based on the findings, recommendations may include: advocating for parents/guardians to consult professional career counsellors to guide students effectively based on interest, skills, abilities, and career prospects; suggesting that relevant academic departments conduct aptitude assessments and organize regular sensitization seminars on career choices; and encouraging the Colleges of Education administration to promote and support the activities of guidance counsellors within their respective institutions.