THE PROVISION OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING SERVICES IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NORTHERN GHANA

ABSTRACT 

The study was carried out in three (3) colleges of education in northern Ghana.The purpose of the study was to investigate the provision of guidance and counselling services and the perceived benefits of these services. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. Questionnaires and interviews were the tools used to gather data for the study.  A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample of four hundred (400) students from the three sampled colleges. Purposive sampling technique was also used to select three (3) counsellors and three (3) principals for the study.  Also, thirty (30) students were also conveniently selected for focus group interview. The SPSS software package was used to analyse the data. The data was organised into frequency counts and converted into percentages which formed the basis for discussions. The interview data was recorded, transcribed, coded and built into relationships. Themes then were developed from the relationships for discussion.The study established that orientation, information, appraisal, counselling and placement services were the major guidance and counselling services provided at the colleges. Furthermore, the study indicated that inadequate funds, workload of counsellor –teachers, lack of computers, internet and telephone facilities and inappropriate or wrong location of counsellors’ offices were the major factors that inhibited the delivery of guidance and counselling services in the college system. Provision of adequate funds and reduction of workload or teaching load for counsellors among others were the recommendations of the study.