Occupational aspiration of tribal students of higher secondary level: a study

Occupational aspiration is one of the important and indispensable objectives of one's life. Because it is the occupational aspiration which largely affect the whole gamut of human life. Occupation plays an important role in individual's life. It not only predicts and determines his life style, position in society, happiness in life but also shapes his personality and morality. The aspiration of the individual at young age has a definite impact on choice of occupation at later years. A student without any aspiration for occupation is like a ship without a rudder. Choosing a vocation is the most important and an inevitable event in the life of an adolescent and that too in modern society. Due to individual differences some students are more attuned to a certain occupation and others are less attuned to that occupation. In the modern society each student is to be equipped with adequate knowledge and skill to earn his/her daily subsistence. After completing education, specially after secondary education, students are confused regarding their earnings. Occupation is one of the primary concern of every student passing 10+2. Understandingly, occupational aspiration at this stage is a crucial factor as it gives direction to one's future. For the present study, students of disadvantaged group i.e., scheduled tribes have been selected. Because tribal people constitute 12.4% of the total population of Assam and 8.2% of India's population (Census 2001). But in many respects they lag behind their non-tribal counterparts. To ameliorate their condition, it is important to give attention to education and economic aspect that help to overall development of their situation. As such an attempt has been made to study the occupational aspiration of the tribal students of higher secondary level.