ROLES OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLORS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF STUDENTS CHALLENGESIN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The study investigated the role of guidance and counsellors in the administration of students' disciplinary challenges in public secondary schools in Awka South Local Government Area (LGA)of Anambra State. To carry out the study effectively, two research questions were raised to guide the study. Descriptive research survey design was employed for the study. The population of the study comprised 266 public secondary schools in Awka South LGA. Total enumeration technique was used to utilize all the elements in the study area which is purposive. A researcher­developedinstrument titled: "Role of Guidance Counsellors in the Administration of Students' Disciplinary Challenges Questionnaire" (RGASDCQ) was used for data collection. The validity of the instrument was ascertained through scholarly reviews. Test-retest method was adopted to fathom the reliability of the instrument. The data collected were subjected to Cronbach 's Alpha Coefficient statistics method which gave a coefficient value of 0. 79 and was considered for the study. Frequency and arithmetic mean were used to answer the research questions. The findings of the study revealed that the role of guidance and counsellors in the administration of students' disciplinary challenges include among others: that orientation services, appraisal services, evaluation services among others are strategies employed by the guidance and counsellors in resolving students' disciplinary problems in Awka South LGA of Anambra State. It is therefore recommended that secondary school guidance and counsellors should be encouraged to make optimal use of services provided by their office to function effectively to curb students' rise in maladjusted behavours which are prevalent in secondary schools nowadays.