Factors Influencing the Choice of Agriculture Science Programme by Female Senior High School Students in Mampong Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

The study was a descriptive survey carried out to find out factors influencing choice of agriculture science programme by female students in Senior High Schools (SHSs) in Mampong Municipality of Ghana. A sample size of 169 students was selected from 302 female agriculture science students in three SHSs in Mampong Municipality. The sampling strategy adopted was proportional stratified sampling technique. A self-made questionnaire was administered on the respondents. Mean analysis, frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data. It was found out that most female agriculture science students in SHSs in Mampong Municipality had background knowledge of agriculture prior to choosing the programme. Factors that influenced them most in their choice of the programme wereinterest in agriculture science, employment avenues in agriculture,high academic ability in agriculture, teachers and parents. They were less influenced by factors like parents' involvement in agriculture, importance of agriculture, nature of occupations in agriculture and job security in agriculture. The rest were lack of female involvement in agriculture and peer influence. They had positive attitude towards the agriculture science programme. It was recommended thatteachers, school counselors and parents should reinforce female students' interest in agriculture. Again,female students should be encouraged to enroll in agriculture science programme since their perception towards the programme is good.