Achieving a better understanding of why students choose to pursue further education : factors that influence students’ choice

Abstract

The purpose of this research study is to provide an insight on what influences or motivates secondary school students attending state schools to pursue further or higher education. The key factors contributing to the students’ decision after Form 5 (Year 11), include both demographic indicators, such as area of college (whether being located at the Northern Harbour or Southern Harbour) and gender; along with factors relating to family. The study also sought to explore the main reasons as to why students are interested in furthering their studies. For data collection and analysis, self-administered questionnaires were distrubted amongst Form 5 (Year 11) students attending in four state schools in Malta: two boys and two girls. Questionnaires were distributed by their class teacher during the month of March, where students had just finished their mock examinations, and were preparing for their MATSEC exams commencing in April/May. The total number of participants were 286, aged between 15 and 16 (M=15.5). Of the total sample group 504, 249 (49.4%) were boys and 255 (50.6%) were girls. The population of Form 5 students for Academic year 2014/2015 in Malta is 2,534 (NSO, 2016). According to this survey, the most significant demographic factors affecting students’ decision were the fathers’ type of employment and having older siblings who are already engaged in post-secondary education. Apart from the aforementioned factors (school related, gender-related and family related factors) that were tested and anaylsed, there were other motivational factors that students themselves identified. Amongst these factors, motivation seemed to be mostly related to job involvement attributes. Out of the students who responded to the last question, 60.1% seemed to strongly agree that education is vital for them because it will lead them to “increase my job opportunities”, “find a suitable job” and “make my job more secure”. Furthermore, this survey also indicated personal motivational factors such as “developing potential”, “fulfilling personal objectives”, “becoming a better person” and “enhancing my social skills” amongst the reasons students gave for aspiring to continue their studies. These elements were not identified by students as strong as instrumental motivational factors such as job related but they were higher than other social motivational influences. Students did not seem to be influenced or motivated so much by social factors such as “participating in an organisation such as Pulse or SDM”, “to be appreciated by others” and “following my friend’s footsteps”.