Is it one's job aspiration or the required ability that determines the job a pupil would eventually get?

Abstract

Students from Area Secondary Schools have a tendency of ending up working in low-level jobs once they finish compulsory education. This study aims to identify some of the aspects that are having a bearing on the career aspirations of Maltese Area Secondary School students. Data compiled from interviews carried out among 10 male and 10 female students attending State Area Secondary Schools, has shown that students; lack the necessary knowledge to take mature career decisions, children from higher social classes tend to have role models which are more readily available, perceived parental encouragement is very important for the students' academical and career success, students which lack the cultural capital will find it difficult to fit within schooling and consider employment as an effective means by which they can get away from the schooling system and that both male and female students have social pressures to abide with stereotyped gender roles. Schools were to have little or no direct influence on career choices.