Challenges Facing Guidance and Counselling Coordinators in Senior High Schools in the Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana

Abstract

The study investigated the challenges that guidance and counselling coordinators face in senior high schools in the Kumasi Metropolis in the Republic of Ghana. It examined the availability of facilities and challenges associated with guidance and counselling in schools. Three hundred and sixty respondents comprising 23 Guidance and Counselling Co-ordinators/teachers
and 337 students were selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques respectively. Descriptive research design was employed with structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The reliability coefficient after pilot test was Cronbach Alfa of 0.78. The results were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The data showed lack of basic facilities like films/videos and counselling handbooks for guidance and counselling. In addition, lack of funding and heavy teaching load were the major challenges affecting guidance and counselling co-ordinators/teachers. It is recommended that heads of senior high schools should provide offices with films/videos and counselling handbooks for guidance and counselling. Further, the Ghana Education Service should provide adequate funding for guidance and counselling programmes. Finally, heads of schools should reduce teaching loads on school counsellors to enable them focus on their core responsibilities.