Factors affecting the implementation of guidance and counselling services in selected colleges of education in Ghana

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine factors that affected implementation of Guidance and Counselling services in three of the Colleges in Ghana. This was necessitated since it appeared that Colleges were not effectively fulfilling their mandate in guiding and counselling students in the colleges in decision making. The study adopted an Action Research design with a sample size of 250 students selected from three colleges of education in the Eastern Region of Ghana using a simple random sampling, stratified sampling and proportional sampling techniques. A self-developed and structured questionnaire was used to collect research data which was subjected to the descriptive statistics of frequency and simple percentages. The findings of the study showed the need for appropriate physical facilities to be established and adequate and professional human resource capacity develop for guidance and counselling services in Colleges of Education in the country. This should be geared towards a total transformation of students and should encompass the entire range of services in the areas of orientation, information, appraisal, placement, consultation, follow-up, evaluation, career guidance. On the basis of the findings, some recommendations were made towards sensitizing and motivating students to avail themselves with the services provided by the Guidance and Counselling Units set up in the Colleges of Education in the country.