The Relationship between Career Aspiration and Academic Performance of Students in Public Secondary Schools in Nairobi County, Kenya

Understanding the relationship between career aspiration and academic achievement of the secondary schools' students could inform education stakeholders about how best to offer relevant career support to facilitate smooth transition from school to further education and to the world of work. This study aimed to better understand whether career aspiration predict academic performance among secondary school students in Kenya. The Self-determination theory and the Social Cognitive theory formed the theoretical framework in this study. The sample of this study consisted of 397 form four students who were drawn from Nairobi County. Career aspiration questionnaire was used for data collection. The data was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, guided by the study objectives. A correlation research design was adopted for the study. The hypotheses on the relationship between career aspiration and academic performances was tested using Chi-Squire inferential statistical test that was carried out at.05 level of significance. The findings indicated some evidence of a significant relationship between career aspiration and academic performance (X2= 11.85, df= 4, P = 0.019,). The study concluded that career aspiration is a real phenomenon that affected students' academic performance in 2017 KCSE examination. A major implication and recommendation of the study was that all stakeholders