Guidance and Counselling Roles in Schools

Guidance and Counselling Practitioners and Their Roles

The Principal/Head Teacher

• Central to the success of the school guidance program as the chairman of the Administrative Committee.
• Delegates roles to administrative staff for effective program implementation.
• Provides logistical support, including office space for counsellors.
• Communicates program activities to the Board of Governors, Parents Teachers Association, and educational inspectors.
• Functions as the administrator, public relations officer, and supervisor of the guidance program.

The Subject Teacher

• Holds dual roles: teaching specific subjects and assisting in guidance service implementation.
• Involved in appraisal, counselling, and evaluation processes.
• Faces potential conflicts between teaching responsibilities and additional guidance duties.
• Essential in the program due to direct engagement with students and awareness from previous training.

The Counsellor

• Executes roles based on professional training aligned with social and institutional expectations.
• Assists students in understanding self-concept, emotions, and aspirations.
• Teaches life skills for self-awareness and effective study habits.
• Provides information on academic subjects and career options.
• Manages the guidance committee and acts as secretary.
• Offers counselling to students referred by teachers or staff.
• Conducts evaluations and referrals within the program.
• Communicates critical issues to the principal and reports to the Counselling Association of Nigeria.

Parents

• Play a vital role as primary counsellors through upbringing and guidance.
• Involved in educational and vocational preparation for their children.
• Promote mental well-being and effective study habits at home.
• Encourage delayed gratification and goal-oriented behavior in children.
• Help children discover and develop their full potential.
• Utilize available resources for their children's educational needs.
• Set realistic career aspirations based on children's interests rather than parental expectations.

The Librarian

• Disseminates current educational and vocational information to students and staff.
• Supports the guidance program by curating relevant educational materials.
• Aids in organizing occupational information for effective access.
• Displays educational content attractively to engage users.
• Collaborates with counsellors and other staff as part of the guidance committee.

Guidance Tools for Effective Services

The Test Techniques

• Essential for effective student guidance via behavioral assessment, often through psychological tests.
• Key characteristics of effective tests: validation, reliability, objectivity, standardization, norm reference, simplicity, economical, and engaging.
• Various psychological tests available assess interests, intelligence, aptitude, and emotional states.
• Custom tests can be developed by teachers and counselors following established criteria.

Purposes of Psychological Tests

• Assist students in making major life decisions.
• Help counselors identify and explore promising opportunities.
• Enhance students' decision-making skills.
• Aid teachers in addressing individual student needs.
• Provide data for student classification and distribution in school settings.
• Facilitate psychological diagnoses and address behavioral issues.
• Identify atypical personality patterns that may require intervention.