Students’ Perception of the Role of Counsellors in the Choice of a Career: a study of the Mfantseman Municipality in Ghana

Moses Allor Awinsong, Omar Dawson, Belinda Enyonam Gidiglo

Abstract


This study investigated students’ perception of the role of counsellors in the choice of career using two schools in the Mfantseman Municipality in the Central Region. The study aimed at finding out the available counselling services in schools, the frequency of access to counselling in schools, and the perception students hold about the role of counsellors in the choice of careers.

The descriptive research design was used in this study. Student respondents numbered 349 while 2 counsellors were involved in the study. Questionnaires and an interview guide were used to gather the necessary data for the study.

The study revealed that counselling services are available in schools and include educational, vocational, and person-social counselling. Secondly, the study found that students had access to counselling but their frequency of access was inhibited by counsellor characteristics and other factors. Lastly, the study uncovered that students thought counsellors to be central to the process of making career choices. The government, Ghana Education Services, and school authorities should give much heed to counselling especially career guidance by making resources available to counsellors for work. Career guidance programmes should be routinized in schools for greater benefits to students. Counsellors should also endeavour to seek opportunities for skill upgrade and higher training so that they can become more relevant to the needs of students.

 

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References


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