CAREER INTERESTS AND INSTITUTIONAL PREFERENCES OF STUDENTS IN BOTSWANA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

This paper surveys higher education career interests and institutional preferences of some senior secondary school students. It also discusses students’ views about the funding of their tertiary education. The research design is both quantitative and qualitative. A questionnaire that combines the two approaches was used to collect data from a representative sample of 101 students from 27 senior secondary schools in Botswana. The findings of the paper are in line with global trends. The career interests of students in Botswana, as elsewhere, cluster around few high-status courses, especially those in the health sciences, business, law, and engineering. Similarly, their institutional preferences are mainly public, government-owned schools that are well-resourced, reputable, and recognised internationally. Most of the students indicate that they require financial assistance to pursue their studies. However, while financial aid is available to all, the Government of Botswana disproportionately distributes it to students whose career interests would help engender economic development.