Effectiveness Of Guidance And Counselling Services In Shaping Students’ Behavioural Problems In Ward Secondary Schools In Tanzania

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of guidance and counselling

services in shaping students’ behavioural problems in six ward secondary schools in

Kyela district, Tanzania. The study objectives were: to examine the competences of

teacher-counsellors in handling students’ behavioural problems, to assess

contribution of school management towards creating conducive counselling

environment, to evaluate the attitude of teachers and students towards school based

guidance and counselling services in shaping students’ behavioural problems. A

qualitative and case study design were adopted to obtain data from 60 informants

including 6 head of schools, 6 teacher counsellors, 6 discipline teachers, 6 class

teachers and 36 students using purposive and snowballing sampling. Data were

collected through semi interviews, focus group discussions and document review.

The results showed that; GCSs were less effective in shaping students’ behavioural

problems in WSSs due to lack of competent and trained counsellors to overcome

students’ behavioural challenges. School management to some extent supported the

provision of GCSs within their scope, however, absence of conducive counselling

environment including lack of special rooms for counselling, teacher-counsellor

workload and poor support from teachers were some of the drawbacks for

effectiveness of GCSs in WSSs. Furthermore, teachers’ and students’ revealed

negative attitudes towards usefulness of GCSs in shaping students’ behavioural

problems. From the findings it is concluded that; GCSs provided in WSSs are

ineffective in shaping students’ behavioural problems.

Inorder to improve the effectiveness of GCSs in schools; it is recommended that,

the government should establish a guide for well and coordinated school counselling

units in secondary schools; employ qualified teacher-counsellors; enhance strong

school management support and supervision of GC program. Similarly, teachers,

students and parents should be sensitized on the role of GCSs.