The Role of Job Shadowing in Career Development of Pupils in Secondary Schools of Chipata District of Zambia

Abstract

Career guidance is one of the critical components of secondary school education in Zambia as it helps learners to make informed decisions about the choice of training and job prospects. The study investigated the role of job shadowing in career development in selected secondary schools in Chipata District. Job shadowing is one of the career guidance activities that gives chance to learners to get exposed to the world of work while observing an employee perform his or her job. A descriptive research design was used. A total of 50 pupils from 5 secondary schools, 5 guidance teachers and 5 deputy head teachers were selected from 5 schools through stratified random sampling for the pupils and purposive sampling for the members of staff. A questionnaire and an interview guide were used as instruments for data collection. The study revealed that some learners had not experienced neither were they exposed to job shadowing in career guidance services. The results further revealed that the guidance teachers opted for career exhibitions and talks rather than facilitate for job shadowing in career development of learners as it was seen to be too involving for the learner, teachers and workers. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended that secondary school guidance teachers should be equipped with different tools and mechanisms to develop career aspirations of learners in schools to ensure progression into satisfying careers.