Gender response and sensitization of studentsin Oyo State, Nigeria on career choicein S and T (case study: food science and technology)

A -day sensitization workshop was organized on career choice in sciences and technology with case study in food science and technology for secondary school science students. The objectives of the workshop were to assess the knowledge of the students on science and technology, food science and technology as a career and entrepreneurship opportunities in food science and technology. Initially, a pre-test was conducted with a structured questionnaire to ask for their level of awareness on S&T, food science and technology and entrepreneurship. The sections involved three career talk presentations in the three areas of assessment and product exhibitions from three research institutes. Post test was conducted after the presentations and exhibitions to assess their current knowledge after the sensitization.Students assessed were in senior secondary school II and III classes. The male students were in the age range of 14 to 17 years while the female students were in the age range of 13 to 18 years. Result of the pre-test showedthat 52.9% and 47.1% of the   male and female students respectively were personally interested in science classes while others were influenced by either parents, teachers, siblings or role models. Students below average percentage; male (47.1%) and female (35.3%) had never heard of food science and technology as a discipline, only 5.9% of the male respondents which was 17.4% of the total respondents showed interest in choosing food science and technology as a discipline from the pre-test result.