Effects of Guidance and Counseling Services on Academic Performance of Secondary School Studentsin South Nyandarua Sub-County
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Date
2015
Authors
Chege, Moses M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
School counseling interventions promote academic success of students. The current study
sought to find out the effect of guidance and counseling services on academic
performance of secondary School students in Nyandarua County, Kenya. The population
for the study comprised of the students, teacher-counselors and principals from 24 public
secondary schools ofNyandarua South Sub-county of Nyandarua County. The study will
be guided by the theory of planned action. The sample size consisted of 362 students, 10
school-counselors and 10 principals. Stratified, systematic and Lottery methods were
employed in choosing sample population. The instrumentsused were questionnaires
designed into three categories for students, teacher-counselors, principals. To ensure
validity of the instruments, the questionnaires were presented to the supervisors from the
department of psychology, Kenyatta University. Split-half method was used to measure
reliability. A pilot study was carried in Mawingo Mixed secondary school. Percentages
were computed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22.0.Data
was analyzed using descriptive statistics and findings were presented by use of pie-charts,
graphs, percentages and tables. The findings of current study showed that students
perceived guidance and counseling services positively. This positive perception
influenced their willingness to uptake counseling services hence their improved study
habits and improved academic performance. Shortage of teacher-counselors, lack oftime,
excess workload for teacher-counselors and lack funds and facilities were revealed by the
results of the current study as some of the challenges that affect effective delivery of
guidance and counseling services. Among the recommendations is that, teachers' service
commission to post trained counselors to every school and the ministry of education to
include funds for counseling department in the free secondary education fund
disbursement. The current study may be of great help to school-counselors, principals and
educational policy makers to improve the quality and quantity of guidance and
counseling services.