International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies ISSN 2028-9324 Vol. 6 No. 4 July 2014, pp. 911-920 © 2014 Innovative Space of Scientific Research Journals http://www.ijias.issr-journals.org/ Corresponding Author: Samson Ombaba 911 Role of Secondary School Career Guidance on Achieving National Manpower Development in Kenya Samson Ombaba 1-2 , F.N. Keraro 1 , A.M. Sindabi 1 , and B.O. Asienyo 1 1 Dept. Psychology, Counselling and Education Foundation, Egerton University, Njoro Campus, P.O. Box P.O Box 536 Egerton, Kenya 2 Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya Copyright © 2014 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT: Students in secondary schools need career guidance to make informed career choices which will contribute to the skilled manpower needs of the economy. This study investigated the role of secondary school career guidance on achieving national manpower development in Kenya. The study was conducted in secondary schools in three Counties in Kenya namely: Nakuru, Kisii and Migori. The study used descriptive cross section survey research design. The target population was all students and teachers in the three counties. The accessible population was all the form four students, teacher counsellors and head teachers. Public County, Sub County and Private secondary schools were used as sampling units. Simple proportionate random sampling was used to select 32 secondary schools in the three counties. A sample of 429 respondents comprising of 365 students 32 head teachers and 32 teacher counsellors was used. Three questionnaires: Student Questionnaire (SQ), Teacher Counsellor Questionnaire (TCQ) and Head Teacher Questionnaire (HQ) were used to collect data. Reliability of the instruments was estimated by use of Cronbach` alpha coefficient. Reliability coefficient of 0.78 for (SQ), 0.81 for (TCQ) and 0.79 for (HQ) were obtained. The hypotheses was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The findings indicate that there was a positive and statistically significant relationship between students and teacher counsellors` perceptions on the effectiveness of guidance services. The findings further indicate a relationship between the school guidance programme and students’ career choices in National Manpower Development and a relationship of the roles played by teacher counsellors, and head teachers in the influencing students` career choice. It is recommended that all secondary school students be provided with equal opportunities to access effective career guidance services. KEYWORDS: Career, guidance, manpower, economy. 1 INTRODUCTION School Career guidance programme provides professional services to students to enable them make appropriate decisions on their future careers. Downing (1968) explained that guidance services are an organized set of specific services established as an integral part of the school programme. These services are designed to promote the development of students and assist them move towards a realization of sound wholesome adjustment and maximum accomplishment according to their potentialities. They assist them to understand, accept themselves and utilize their ability, aptitudes and interests to acquire skills which will make them become useful members of society. The counseling needs of students are enormous be they boarders in their respectful schools or day scholars. Apart from other areas of concern such as psychological, social and financial needs of students, career choice becomes an important issue directly or indirectly related to these factors. This leads to the need for both group and individual counseling to supplement each other (Gladding, 2004).