Parental Influence, Career Counselling, and Role Models in Girls’ STEM Career Choices: Evidence from Three Public Universities in Ghana

Girls’ participation in STEM careers remains low despite global efforts to close the gender gap. This study examines the factors influencing girls’ pursuit of STEM-related careers in three public universities in Ghana, focusing on parental educational attainment, parental involvement, career counselling, and exposure to role models. Using the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) as a framework, the study explores how personal, contextual, and social influences shape career decisions. A mixed-methods approach was employed, collecting quantitative data from 424 female tertiary students and qualitative insights from 15 semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that parental involvement, career counselling, and role models significantly impact girls’ STEM career choices, explaining 38%, 41%, and 49.8% of the variance, respectively. However, parental educational attainment did not significantly influence STEM career selection. The study highlights the critical role of mentorship, career guidance, and family support in shaping STEM aspirations. It recommends policy measures to strengthen career counselling, increase access to STEM role models, and enhance parental engagement in career discussions.