The role of guidance and counselling in the secondary schools of the Caprivi region as perceived by teachers and teacher counsellors

Abstract

Abstract provided by author:

Two similar questionnaires were designed and were completed by 15 Teacher Counsellers and 14 Teachers from the 10 senior secondary schools in the Caprivi Region. Both male and female Teacher Counsellors and Teachers participated in the study

According to the results presented in chapter 4 of this report, the roles of Teacher Counsellors in the Caprivi Region seem to be so diversified. The activities of Teacher Counsellors include: a. making contacts with learners to understand them, b. dealing with truants, c. dealing with bullies, d. supporting other teachers in dealing with problem cases, e. talking with learners during class periods on individual and group concerns, f. advising learners on subject choices for career development, g. seeing individual learners and discussing the learner's concerns, h. handling cases of vandalism, i. resolving conflict between teachers and learners and j. referring learners to Regional School Counsellors at the regional office

The study also identified the most prevalent problems that Teacher Counsellors in the Caprivi Region experience in implementing the Guidance and Counselling to be: a. lack of reference materials, b. lack of training in Guidance and Counselling among Teacher Counsellors, c. lack of time and space for Counselling, d. and lack of support from learners, school management teams, other teaching staff and parents

To improve on the current situation, it was suggested and recommended in this study that Teacher Counsellors should be intensively trained to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills in Counselling learners. The school management teams, parents' committees, members of the teaching staff and learners should be educated on the importance and functions of a supportive programme like Guidance and Counselling in the education system. Furthermore, giving them the expected moral support could motivate Teacher Counsellors. The Ministry of Basic Education and Culture should pay them for their Counselling efforts to boost their morale. Other people at schools should acknowledge and support the job of Counselling that is being done by Teachers. Regional School Counsellors too, should frequently visit schools to monitor the progress of the Guidance and Counselling programme and also assess the Teacher Counsellors' needs

Finally, since this study was the first one to be done in the Caprivi Region,. the need to conduct a similar study in other regions couldn't be over emphasized. The researcher believes that the problems and suggestions pointed out in this study were not exhaustive, hence a further investigation in the issues raised in the study would be necessary