Perceived Teacher Counsellors' and Students' Psycho-Social Challenon Affecting Effective Provision of Guidance and Counselling Services in Dav Secondary Schools in North Rift Region of Kenya

Abstract

In an effort to increase access to secondary education by all students, the Kenyan Government has established more day secondary schools through County Education Boards. However, due to constant interaction with home and school environments, students in day secondary schools may still face a number of psycho-social challenges. The guidance and counselling services were established in secondary schools to address these challenges. However, the successof this programme depends so much on teacher-counsellors and students perception on the effectiveness of guidance and counselling services in addressing psycho-social challenges in day secondary schools. The study utilized the survey design. The target population was the teacher- counsellors' and students in selected counties of North Rift region (Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo Counties). 378 respondents were selected using stratified random sampling. Questionnaires were used to collect data. To ensure content validity of the questionnaires, a pilot study was conducted in two day secondary schools in two counties that were not used in the actual study but with similar characteristics. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 22.0 for windows. The findings revealed that students and Teacher-counsellors in day secondary schools in the North Rift region of Kenya perceived numerous psycho-social challenges that affect effective provision of guidance and counseling. It was therefore concluded that unless the psycho-social challenges affecting the provision of guidance and counseling are addressed, the objectives of the programme will go unrealized. This may mean that the enormous resources that the government of Kenya and other Education stakeholders have put in place since the inception of the programme in the 2001 will go to waste. The study recommended that concerted efforts should be put in place by the government of Keya and non-governmental organizations to address the psycho-social challenges.