A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING SERVICES EFFECT ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN IKENNE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study

Since Nigeria Republic has established their independence after the colonization, many good developments took place, both in the structure and functioning of society, of which, educational system is no exception. In Nigeria, the system of education seems to undergo a never-ending reform. “As the reformation progresses,” It is not surprising that not only children and parents but also educational authorities are getting confused and do not know how to cope with the need of making choices in an increasingly complex system of education. One of important need of Nigeria education is to take note of the academic performance of our students’ in other to have a standard and well-functioning of the society.

Academic performance which is the extent in which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their short or long-term educational goals is reflected through Cumulative GPA and completion of educational degrees such as High School and Bachelor's degrees. It can also be refers to a child’s success and performance in school and can be measured by grade point averages, as a cluster of achievement tests or, using specific tests for reading or arithmetic skills, such as reading speed, fluency and comprehension, and the ability to solve logical/arithmetic problems (Joseph , Karol , Peter  and Marek , 2016). Throughout the nations such as Nigeria, great concern is being expressed about how poorly children are performing on tests in mathematics, reading and science. The future of every nation depends on a citizenship who knows how to participate in the democratic process educated and trained for the job market. Hence the need for academic procedure that is well seasoned with competent Guidance and Counseling services as early as possible at every step of academic exercise. Studies have it that private Secondary schools’ education financial commitment does not improve students’ performance on achievement tests per se. Really, what matters is teaching quality, and not availability of school equipment and infrastructure. Hence, the need for seasoned educators to acquaint self with the actual components of academic performance which encompass: The current Academic Performance in Africa according to a report by Olu Adenipekun (2017), Head of National Office of the West African Examination Council, WAEC, announced the cheering news of a seven percent improvement in the number of candidates that passed the examination with five credits. Last year, that is 2016, 52.9 percent of the candidates recorded the feat. The number jumped to 59.22 percent this year (2017), out of the 1,559,662 candidates that sat for the examination. He said that 923,486 of the 1,559,162 candidates that sat for the examination obtained a minimum of credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics. Giving a further breakdown of the results, the WAEC boss said that 1,084,214 candidates, representing 69.94 per cent, obtained credits and above in six subjects. The question one may ask encompass what factor could have responsible for such percentile increase? Could this be associated with the impacts of guidance and counseling which governments tend to be floating in most secondary school? If such be the case, counseling becomes essential needs for better academic performance. These questions, therefore, call for the assessment of the purpose and the availability of G&C services that could have responsible or contribute to this minute change in the present Nigerians’ WAEC result. Hence, the need to consider the purpose of G&C and its’ visible impacts on students’ academic performance.

Purpose of Guidance and Counseling

1.        Providing the needed information & assistance

2.        Helping in individual to make wise choices

3.        Improve the understanding of self

4.        Facilitate the adjustment

5.        Helps in adapting to the changes or new environment

6.        Making self-sufficient & independent Efficient use of capabilities & talent

7.        Promote the optimal personal & professional development

8.        Balanced physical, psychological, emotional, social & spiritual growth

9.        Helps in overall development & to live productive life

Recently, Guidance and Counseling has actually recorded ample achievements such as, helping in the academic growth & development, vocational & professional maturity, Facilitating individuals in the right education & profession, offering help to handle educational & professional situations, helping in the proper utilization of human resources and in adapting to the changing concept of education. Also, in preparing to adapt in changing professional situations & emerging challenges and in making proper career choice with minimize indiscipline. As suggested by the researcher findings, high-quality counseling services can have long-term effects on a child’s well-being with academic performance inclusive, and can prevent a student from turning to violence and drug or alcohol abuse behaviors. High-quality school counseling services can as well improve a student’s academic achievement. Existing Studies on the effects of school counseling have shown positive effects on student’s grades, reducing classroom disruptions, and enhancing teachers’ abilities to manage classroom behavior effectively. Similarly, High-quality school counseling services can help to address students’ mental health needs.” (U.S. Department of Education, 2002)  Hence, School guidance programs are not just essential but crucial needs to be made available so as to assist students overcome numerous challenges they experience at home and at school. This would subsequently enable them to yield positive result in their academic achievement or performances. Guidance is a rudimentary ingredient that plays a crucial role in school system and insists on upholding the social and moral values of students, suppress, control and redirect behavior. Therefore, this study is to assessthe impact of Guidance and Counseling on academic performance of public Secondary Schools student in Ilishan Remo Area of Ogun State, Nigeria.

1.2  Statement of Problem

The challenge of education today is to offer school experiences that provide students with opportunities to develop the understandings, skills, and attitudes necessary to become lifelong learners, capable of identifying and solving problems and dealing with change. Students need to be able to communicate clearly, competently, and confidently from a broad knowledge base in order to make thoughtful and responsible decisions. Achieving these educational goals will provide students with the means to make connections between what they learn and how they live (Public School Programs 2000– 2001). In response to these challenges, how can the government shift guidance and counselling from a position-focused model that delivers services to specific populations to a comprehensive model that delivers services to all students in the school? Academic performance of public secondary school is declining overtime, especially in our contemporary where it seems as if that the government do not care about the performance of the students in public secondary schools. However, most of time professional counselor tends not to be made available in public secondary school, in order to promote the academic performance of the students. This situation often has a negative reflection on students; character, social personal and moral values in public secondary school. Based on the nature of guidance and counseling services, it is visible that academic performance which of great important to national development could be greatly enhance; hence this study is out. According to Proverbs 11:14, which say: where there is no counsel purposes are destroy, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Based on this bible quotation how can counseling services make a great effect in public secondary school compare to private secondary school, in order to enhance the safety knowledge, acquire by students. Nevertheless, they seem to be a minimal availability of counseling services in places Ilishan town of Ogun State. Hence, there is need for one to compare the present role of counseling services on academic performance of public secondary school and private secondary school students, failure to do these may amount to inability to quantify the important of counseling services in education. This may eventually result in serious lack of educational poor academic achievement among public secondary school student, compare to private secondary school students.  

1.3  The Purpose of the study

This study sought to examine the influence of guidance and counseling on the academic performance in public secondary schools students’ in Ikenne local government area.

1.4  Objectives of the study

The main objectives of this study are to assess the role of Guidance and counseling while the specific objectives are to:

1)        Describe the available guidance and counseling services and the public secondary schools students’ academic performance in Ikenne local government area.

2)        Examine how guidance and counseling programs is impacting the public secondary schools students’ academic performance

3)        Determine how guidance and counseling programs is impacting the public secondary schools students’ academic performance based on the participants’ age and gender.

1.5 Research Question

1.        What are the available guidance and counseling services and the public secondary schools students’ academic performance in Ikenne local government area?

2.        How can guidance and counseling programs impact the public secondary schools students’ academic performance?

3.        How can guidance and counseling programs impact the public secondary schools students’ academic performance based on the participants’ age and gender.

1.6  Research Hypotheses

H01:    There is no significant relationship between studentss’ academic performance and guidance and counseling services in the public secondary schools in Ikenne local government.

H02:  There is no significant relationship between the guidance and counseling programs and the students’ academic performance in the public secondary schools in Ikenne local government.

H03     There is no significant relationship between the guidance and counseling service and the students’ academic performance in the public secondary schools in Ikenne local government based on age and gender.

1.7  Significance of the study

The study will be of great important as it relates to young people in public secondary schools in Ikenne local government area. Without doubt this is the expected future leader of great Nation (Nigeria) and any nation that fails to plan or have concern for the academic performance of the youth, has planned to failed; with a great fall. The study will further be of great benefit to many such as researcher and other academic stock holder; it will add new knowledge to existing academic knowledge in research field similarly academic stockhold such as administration and parent will get to know the essence of guidance and counseling as relate to academic performance of students. Finally, current public secondary will get to realize the important of academic performance in present future.

1.8  Scope of the Study

This study is limited to the public secondary school students in Ikenne local government area, Ogun State Nigeria. Designed to assess the influence of guidance and counseling on academic performance of public secondary schools in Ikenne local government area.

1.9  Operation Definition of Terms

Guidance refer to rudimentary ingredient that plays a crucial role in school system and insists on upholding the social and moral values of students. It is intended to suppress, control and redirect behavior.

Counseling: Counseling refer to the service offered to the individual who is undergoing a problem and needs professional help to overcome it.

Academic performance: Academic performance can be referring to the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their short or long-term educational goals. Cumulative GPA and completion of educational degrees such as High School and Bachelor's degrees represent academic achievement.

Impact: refers to measure of tangible effect and intangible effect of thing influence upon.

Service: refers to act of help or assistance offer to an individual.

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