Awareness of Forestry as a Career among Secondary School Students in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria

Over the years enrolment of students in to forestry programme is always low and many of the students in forestry programme do not always choose the programme. This underpinned the need for a comprehensive knowledge about the reasons behind the low enrolment in Forestry and forestry-related disciplines, with a view to provide the needed data that will guide stakeholders in taking an informed decisions that will help in addressing the challenges that resulted in the shortage of manpower in the forestry and wildlife sector. Stratified random and purposive sampling techniques were used in the selection of secondary schools in Makurdi metropolis. A total of 195 students were selected for interview from six schools using Taro-yamane formula. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential analysis. The study shows that 61.5% were male and majority of the students (68.2%) were within the age bracket of 11-15 years with mean age of 14 years. The students strongly agreed that they were aware of forestry as a course of study in high institutions (MWS =3.99, >3.05) and the career opportunities in forestry (MWS =3.67, >3.05). The level of students’ awareness of forestry as a course differ significantly (H=16.85 P<0.05) with type of school the students attended. Also, there was a significant difference (H=18.46, P<0.05) between the students’ level of awareness of career opportunities and types of school attended. The students’ strongly agreed that they will not choose forestry as a course of study in the high institutions because it is not their family choice (MWS =3.52, <2.95). The study recommends that parents should allow their children to choose any course of their choice instead of parents determining career choice for their children so as to enable effective study of career choices. Also government should make forestry agencies active and strong so that forestry graduates will be sure of job opportunities after school. There is need for massive public enlightenment on the importance and career opportunities in forestry.