A proposed scenario for amending the secondary education system in Palestine; In light of the standardization of the occupational preference scale: تصور مقترح لتعديل نظام التعليم الثانويّ في فلسطين في ضوء تقنين مقياس الميول المهْنيّة

The study aimed to present a proposed concept for amending the secondary education system in Palestine, in light of standardization the scale of vocational inclinations, according to the variables of gender and the level of academic achievement, on a sample of (1478) students, chosen in a cluster manner, and then stratified from all the class students. The results indicated the achievement of the global construction of the occupational inclinometer, with good indications of validity and good reliability, through the validity of the hypothetical composition, internal consistency, discriminatory validity, alpha reliability, reapplication, and exploratory factor analysis. That showed the presence of eight factors that accounted for 76% of the total variance. The division of secondary education into three tracks: the scientific track: it includes: (the health, industrial, agricultural, and technological branch). The literary track includes: (Branch of Humanities, Sharia, Entrepreneurship and Business). The applied path includes: (the hotel branch, the beauty, the fashion branch and the customization of clothes). This division will contribute to modifying the inferior view of vocational education on the one hand, increasing the demand for professional branches on the other hand, and reducing dropout rates, as well as reducing the suffering and anxiety of parents. The study recommended the issuance of the second Education Law; to include an amendment of the secondary education system, and the approval of the results of the vocational inclinometer as a criterion besides academic achievement; to distribute students to the tenth grade (scientific, literary, and applied) branches as a prelude to distributing them to high school branches.

The Suitability of Students in Bachelor of Science in Statistics (BSS) Program

This study aims to assess the suitability of students in Bachelor of Science in Statistics program. Seemingly, several students who enrolled in the said program does not possess the qualities of being mathematically inclined. Hence, this study was conducted. By complete enumeration, the study employed all BSS students from different year level. Secondary data were used such as two psychological tests from the University Student Services Office which measures the intelligence and numerical aptitude. A primary data was also employed through an instrument called Brainard Occupational Preference Inventory which measures the interest of students in the field of statistics. The gathered data were then analyzed with the aid of some descriptive measures and correlational methods. Results revealed that there are only a few (11.9%) who have high levels of intelligence and numerical aptitude but they happen to have low level of interest in statistics. Of those students highly interested (47.6%) in the field of statistics one-fourth (11.9%) of them have low levels of intelligence and numerical aptitude. It is found out that there is a significant linear relationship between intelligence and numerical aptitude among BSS students. Moreover, intelligence and interest in statistics is inversely and significantly correlated among BSS junior students. Furthermore, results showed that there is no significant linear relationship between numerical aptitude and interest in statistics across year level. Hence, the interest of the BSS students must be cultivated in order to increase their level of achievement.

MOTIVATION FOR OCCUPATIONAL PREFERENCE AMONG STUDENTS OF REGIONAL MARITIME UNIVERSITY IN NUNGUA, ACCRA- GHANA

The aim of this study was to find out motivation for occupational preference among Regional Maritime University students. The cross-sectional survey design was chosen for the study and the stratified sampling technique was used to select a sample of 305 students from three departments constituting major programmes of study. Motivation for Occupational Preference Scale was used to gather data from the sampled population. The Independent samples t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data gathered. Results showed that, extrinsic values influenced occupational preference more than intrinsic values, both Ghanaian and International students were influenced equally by extrinsic factors in their preference for occupation, there was no significant gender difference in the influence of extrinsic factors on occupational preference and there was a significant difference in the intrinsic factors that influence occupational preference among students from different programmes. It is therefore recommended that, regular career guidance and counselling sessions are held at various levels of education to inform and educate students especially at the university on the benefits of career preference based on intrinsic factors than solely on extrinsic factors. In conclusion students must be encouraged to assess their vocational interest or career preference so that they pursue programmes and courses that they have the natural inclination for and not only make a choice of vocation or career just for extrinsic values or rewards.

Assessment of Shyness among Tribal and Rural Adolescents and Its Relationship with Vocational Interests

The present study aims to find out the prevalence of shyness among adolescents in tribal and rural areas as well as to find out the relationship between of occupational preference among adolescents of tribal and rural areas, influence of shyness levels, gender, and income on job preference among the adolescents. The experience of shyness can occur at any or all of the following levels: cognitive, affective, physiological and behavioural and may be triggered by a wide variety of situational cues. Since shyness could affect any dimension, the present study aims to identify the influence of shyness on occupational preference of the adolescents. The study of adolescent shyness has implications for understanding some of the more extreme examples of adolescent violence as exhibited by recent high school shootings perpetrated by shy, socially isolated, angry adolescents labeled as “cynically shy” (Carducci, 2000) and the development of strategies for reducing the social isolation experienced by such socially disenfranchised adolescents. Finally, severe shyness that continues into the later years of life can result in chronic social isolation that leads to increasingly severe loneliness and related psychopathology, and even to chronic illness and a shorter life span. Lastly, after studying the shyness aspects and relationship with other variables, an attempt will be made to suggest few remedial measures for shyness.

Developing Counseling Priorities of Filipino Children in Conflict with the Law

Philippine laws protect the rights of children in conflict with the law (CICL) detained in rehabilitation centers. Detention in such centers is not punitive in nature. Counseling is deemed as essential to their rehabilitation. This descriptive study aims to identify educational priorities of CICL through standardized and non-standardized measures. Standardized tests included the Culture Fair Intelligence Test, the Mooney Problem Checklist and the Brainard Occupational Preference Inventory. Results show that the participants have CFIT IQ scores at the below average range, implying the need for simplified counseling methods to be employed. The top concern identified by the participants of the study is on Future Vocational and Educational Plans. Given this, the Brainard Occupational Preference Inventory was given and results show that majority (57%) had a career preference towards agriculture. Non-standardized measures include interviews and review of case profiles of the participants. Plans after release from the center were also identified.