The Views of Young Farmers Club Members on Their
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE VIEWS OF YOUNG FARMERS CLUB MEMBERS ON THEIR CLUBS’ ACTIVITIES, THEIR CAREER INTERESTS, AND THEIR INTENTIONS TO PURSUE AGRICULTURE-RELATED CAREER PREPARATION AT THE POST-SECONDARY LEVEL: AN EMBEDDED CASE STUDY OF TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EASTERN UGANDA By STEPHEN CHARLES MUKEMBO Bachelor of Vocational Studies in Agriculture with Education Kyambogo University Kampala, Uganda 2005 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF AGRICULTURE May, 2013 THE VIEWS OF YOUNG FARMERS CLUB MEMBERS ON THEIR CLUBS’ ACTIVITIES, THEIR CAREER INTERESTS, AND THEIR INTENTIONS TO PURSUE AGRICULTURE-RELATED CAREER PREPARATION AT THE POST-SECONDARY LEVEL: AN EMBEDDED CASE STUDY OF TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EASTERN UGANDA Thesis Approved: Dr. Craig. M. Edwards Thesis Adviser Dr. Shida Henneberry Dr. John Ramsey ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my graduate committee: Dr. M. Craig Edwards (Chair), Dr. J. W. Ramsey, and Dr. Shida Henneberry (Head of Department, International Agriculture) for their support, guidance, and encouragement throughout my research, and for contributing to my professional growth. Special thanks go to Dr. Edwards who made a tremendous sacrifice and patience in ensuring that quality work is produced. Dr. Edwards, I am very grateful for the guidance, mentorship, patience, and dedication to this research and towards my professional development. Thank you. Also Dr. Shane Robinson and Bonne Milby, thank you for your guidance and support. To my fellow graduate students Assoumane Maiga and Matofari Fred, thank you for your time, support, and encouragement. To my research assistant Mr. James Isooba, thank you for the hard work and ensuring that the data is collected in a professional and timely manner. To my parents and brother in the U. S., Jim, Lynn, and P.J. you made all the sacrifice needed for my success. May the Lord grant you what your heart desires and above all good health as we celebrate this milestone in my professional career, and to my mum Rebecca and my wife Kevin, thanks for the wise counsel and endurance. To dad, I wish you were around to celebrate with me, but I know you must be proud for I have not let you down. I kept the candle burning. Finally I dedicate this work my son and daughter, Charles and Angel, please work hard to surpass what your dad has achieved. Glory be to God for enabling me to finish my thesis. May God bless you all. Acknowledgements reflect the views of the author and are not endorsed by committee members or Oklahoma State University. Name: STEPHEN CHARLES MUKEMBO Date of Degree: MAY, 2013 Title of Study: THE VIEWS OF YOUNG FARMERS CLUB MEMBERS ON THEIR CLUBS’ ACTIVITIES, THEIR CAREER INTERESTS, AND THEIR INTENTIONS TO PURSUE AGRICULTURE-RELATED CAREER PREPARATION AT THE POST-SECONDARY LEVEL: AN EMBEDDED CASE STUDY OF TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EASTERN UGANDA Major Field: INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE Abstract: The study had 102 participants who were members of Young Farmers Clubs (YFCs) from two secondary schools in eastern Uganda. The study’s primary purpose was to determine the perceptions of the members of YFCs on their intent to pursue agriculture- related career preparation at the post-secondary school level. A secondary purpose was to describe club members and their reasons for club membership. The study was guided by six research objectives and employed a single case (embedded) design; the selection technique for the case was purposeful. The researcher used cross-sectional survey methodology to collect data. The findings indicated most of the club members were in senior four, i.e., grade 10, and almost one-third were 16 years of age. Almost all of the clubs’ members were likely or highly likely to continue their education. And a high number indicated they were likely or highly likely to pursue career preparation in an agricultural field. Most of the members came from a nuclear family with nine or fewer members. One-half of them had at least one parent working in agriculture and a majority had a sibling or another relative employed similarly. Students mainly joined the YFCs to improve their academic performance, for personal interests, and to gain life skills. Most of the members were more interested in pursuing careers related to science and indicated little preference for the social sciences or the humanities. Intrinsic factors were the main factors influencing the club members’ career choices, such as perceptions of their ability to succeed in a career or personal goals. The activities of their clubs had less influence on the members’ career aspirations. Significant associations were found between student’s sex and personal interest, their acquiring life skills as a reason for joining YFCs, and pursuing agriculture-related career preparation at the tertiary level. The Ministry of Education and Sports in Uganda should encourage more schools to establish YFCs to assist students in acquiring life skills, improving their academic performance, and exploring their career interests. Additional research should be conducted on how to attract more females to careers in agriculture requiring tertiary education, especially in developing countries. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................1 Problem Statement ...................................................................................................8 Purpose of the Study ..............................................................................................11 Objectives ..............................................................................................................11 Significance of the Study .......................................................................................11 Assumptions and Limitations of the Study ............................................................12 Definition of Terms................................................................................................13 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE..................................................................................17 Human Capital .......................................................................................................17 Human Capital Theory ...........................................................................................25 Theory of Planned behavior ...................................................................................35 Interest and Motivation for Career Choice ............................................................39 Student Organizations and Clubs in Schools .........................................................51 History and Evolution of Agriculture Clubs around the World .............................54 Conceptual Framework ..........................................................................................59 Explanation of the Study’s Conceptual Model ......................................................62 Summary ................................................................................................................63 III. METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................66 Purpose of the Study ..............................................................................................66 Objectives ........................................................................................................…..66 Institutional Review Board Approval ....................................................................67 Research Design.....................................................................................................67 Study Participants, Uganda’s Schools, and the National Examination Scheme ....69 Training and Certification of Uganda’s Secondary School Teachers ....................71 Case Selection……………………………………………………………………………72 The Study’s Instrumentation……………………………………………………………..73 Validity of the Instrument………………………………………………………………..75 Field Testing of the Study’s Instrument………………………………………………….76 Research Assistant………………………………………………………………………..78 Data Collection…………………………………………………………………………...78 Coding and Data Analysis………………………………………………………………..79 v Chapter Page IV. FINDINGS .....................................................................................................……82 Purpose of the Study ..............................................................................................83 Objectives ..............................................................................................................84 Personal Characteristics of the Members of Young Farmers Clubs in Eastern Uganda ...................................................................................................................84 Family Characteristics of the Members of Young Farmers Clubs in Eastern Uganda ...................................................................................................................87 Management and Parental Support for Two Young Farmers Clubs in Eastern Uganda, as Reported by Club Members ................................................................89 Agricultural Activities in Which Students had Engaged as Members of Two Young Farmers Clubs in Eastern Uganda ..............................................................91 Student Sex and Association with Selected Variables ...........................................97 Reasons