Abstract:

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA, 2018) has shown that physics, mathematics, and other science and technical subjects are generally not popular subjects. The Czech Republic has also problem with the lack of technically oriented experts. There is no interest in science and technology among pupils and students. Most of them focus on the humanities.

Professional orientation and education are related to the issue of interest in technical subjects and the selection of technically oriented fields of study. According to Prucha, Walterova, Mares (2003), the main content of the professional orientation is the formation and development of a real professional goal and the perspective of a young person and the characteristics and abilities important for the career choice process. Influences that play an important role in preparing students for career choices are intrapersonal factors, social factors and processual influences (Patton, McMahon, 1999).

The paper presents the results of research that investigated the factors that influenced pupils in choice of type of secondary school. The research was carried out in the Czech Republic in the Hradec Králové region. The research investigated the representation of boys and girls in these secondary schools, whether students of technically oriented secondary schools play with electrical kit, construction kit or robotic construction kit. Moreover, the research found out the influence of the family - the professional orientation of parents, the influence of teachers at primary school, the influence of media. Furthermore, it was examined whether the choice of a technically oriented school was influenced by the possibility of application on the labor market.

Keywords:

Technical education, professional orientation of students, secondary school.