Parental Expectations and Students' Academic Interests: A Case Study of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Abstract

Interest is considered a vital element that helps in attaining the educational goals of students. Parents also set some expectations for their children's education and career, which may not always align with their interests; consequently, their educational practice may suffer. In this regard, this study was designed to examine the relationship between students' academic interests in their respective fields and their parental expectations. The nature of the study was descriptive, and the quantitative method was considered appropriate for data collection. By applying a simple random sampling technique, the questionnaires were distributed among 151 students of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur from various departments, and data was analyzed by using several descriptive and inferential statistical tests. The findings revealed that students possess a high academic interest level and showed a significant difference with respect to their gender and departments. Furthermore, parental expectations were negatively correlated with academic interest and higher for male students than female students. Based on the results, the study highly advocates that parents should respect the desires and interests of their children and should treat them equally by understanding their abilities and aptitudes. Besides, teachers should raise awareness among parents regarding the importance of the academic interests of students in their studies.