The Status Of Guidance And Counselling To Students With Disabilities In Inclusive Secondary Schools In Tanzania

ABSTRACT

The study's purpose was to explore the status of guidance and counselling services to

students with disabilities in inclusive secondary schools. The study focused on three

specific objectives: to explore the accessibility of the school environment to the

provision of guidance and counselling services (GCSs) to students with disabilities

(SwD), to explore the GCSs provided to SwD in inclusive secondary schools, to

investigate the challenges of GCSs provided to students with disabilities in inclusive

secondary schools. The study was guided by the client-centred theory. This study

was conducted in Dar es Salaam City. It employed a qualitative approach with

exploratory research design. It comprised a sample of "54" participants who were

purposely selected. The participants were the heads of schools, school counsellors,

class masters and mistresses as well as students with disabilities. Data were collected

through interviews, focus group discussion (FGD), documentary review, and

observations. Data were analysed through thematic analysis.

The study found out that, guidance and counselling were accessible to SwD in

inclusive secondary schools with varying degrees because counselling environment

differs. The study also identified different challenges including lack of funds

allocated for GCSs to SwD, shortage of guidance and counselling (GC) facilities and

communication barriers. The other challenges were mistrust for teacher counsellors

and lack of in-service training among teacher counsellors. The study therefore

recommends that the government should employ specialist counsellors who will deal

with counselling while teachers continue with teaching and other work related to.

Also, recommends that funds are needed in counselling unity to solve and maintain

SwD dignity. In respect to future research, this study recommends further studies to

be conducted to SwD in boarding schools.