Uncovering the Truth for a Better Education: A Marxist Approach to J. C. De Graft’s Sons and Daughters

Confidence Gbolo Sanka, Patricia Gustafson-Asamoah, Charity Azumi Issaka

Abstract


What factors should come first in the choice of an educational programme or a future career for a ward? Is it the interest, potential, and passion of the ward or the ego of the guardian? Is it monetary consideration and social status that should be the criteria based upon which such a decision is made or the criterion of better prospects of a job market? These and other questions are raised and dramatised in Sons and daughters by De Graft. This paper examines the extent to which capitalist ideology plays a role in determining career choice and in creating the familial tensions and conflict that are presented in the play. By applying Marxist theory and praxis to the content and form of the play, it is found that Sons and daughters is not simply about a generational conflict between parents and their children; it equally presents capitalist ideologies that undergird some of the attitudes and decisions that we make on a daily basis. More significantly, evidence from the play indicates that it is the prospects of a job market, the potential and interest of the ward and not the ego of the guardian or the wishful careers of the latter which must come first in the choice of a programme or a future career for a ward.

Keywords


Ghana, Marxism, Classism, Commodification, Consumerism, Rugged Individual, Imperialism

Full Text:

PDF

References


Castle, G. (2007). The Blackwell guide to literary theory, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

De Graft, J. C. (2006). Sons and daughters: A play, Ibadan: University Press PLC.

Eliot, G. (1986). Silas Marner, London: Penguin.

Dada, B. (2018). On parents and career choices in Nigeria, Techcity, https://www.techcityng.com, accessed on April 21, 2019.

Enughe, A. M. O., et al (2017). A study on students’ choice of programme in the university, Journal of Educational Research and Social Research, 7(1), 137-143.

Pepple, F. T. (2014). Parents’ influence on career views and choice of institution as correlates on students’ choice of science education career in some River State tertiary institutions, Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 5(19), 98-101.

Habib, M.A.R. (2005). A history of literary criticism: From Plato to the present, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Kumar, S. (2016). Career choice and college students: Parental influence on career choice traditionalism among college students in selected cities in Ethiopia, International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies, 3(3), 23-30.

Lundvall, B. and Lema, R. (2014). Growth and structural changes in Africa: Develpoment strategies for the learning economy, African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 6 (5), 455-466.

Maringe, F. (2006). University and course choice: Implications for positioning, recruitment and marketing, International Journal of Educational Management, 20(6), 446-479.

Mbabazi, J. (2018). Career choice: How to deal with parent-child clash, The New Times, https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/203472, accessed on April 21, 2019.

Mbawuni, J. and Nimako, S. G. (2015). Critical factors underlying students’ choice of institution for graduate programmes: Empirical evidence from Ghana, International Journal of Higher Education, 4(1), 120-135.

Myburgh, J. E. (2005). An empirical analysis of career choice factors that influence first year accounting students at the university of Pretoria: A cross-racial study, Meditari Accountancy Research, 13(2), 35-48.

Olaosebikan, O. I. and Olusakin, A. (2014). Effects of parental influence in adolescents’ career choice in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria, Journal of Research and Method in Education, 4(4), 44-57.

Siyan, J. A., Maisamari, J. Y., and Ahmadu, Y. (2018). Relationship between parental guidance and students career choice in secondary schools in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja-Nigeria, Journal of Education and Practice, 9(18), 135-142.

Shumba, A. and Naong, M. (2017). Factors influencing students’ career choice and aspirations, Journal of Social Sciences, 33(2), 169-178.

Sierra Sanchez, J. (2012). Factors influencing a student’s decision to pursue a communications degree in Spain, Intangible Capital, 8(1), 43-60.

Sokro, E., Osei-Bonsu, N., Agbola, R. M. and Ankrah, E. (2011). Impact of career choice in job satisfaction among employees in Ghana, Indian Journal of Commerce and Management Studies, 2(6), 83-88.

Tyson, L. (2006). Critical theory today: A user friendly guide, Second Edition, New York: Routledge.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.7n.2p.100

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2013-2024 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD.

International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies  

You may require to add the 'aiac.org.au' domain to your e-mail 'safe list’ If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox'. Otherwise, you may check your 'Spam mail' or 'junk mail' folders.