| dc.description |
This study intended at exploring on guidance and counselling services in enhancing academic performance among female students at rural secondary schools in Muleba district, Tanzania. The objectives of the study were: to investigate on how counsellors with different qualifications provide guidance and counselling services in secondary schools, to examine the attitude of both teachers and female students towards the contribution of guidance and counselling services in enhancing good academic performance in their studies. Lastly, was to explore the involvement of parents/guardians in providing guidance and counselling practices to their children. Qualitative approach with case study design were adopted to get data from 32 participants comprising of 3 head of schools, 3 academic masters/mistresses, 3 teacher-counsellors and 23 students using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through focus group discussions, document review and interview and analysed through thematic analysis. The results found that; GCSs were significant in enhancing academic performance among female students in rural secondary schools. It was also found that both teachers and students were holding a positive attitude towards guidance and counselling in enhancing academic performance to students. However, the absence of professional trained teacher-counsellors, lack of guidance and counselling facilities, teacher-counsellor workload and lack of clear timetable for guidance and counselling services were leading to poor provision of guidance and counselling services to students in rural secondary schools. Furthermore, minimal involvement of parents in providing guidance and counselling services to their children were seen to hinder the provision of guidance and counselling services to the students in rural secondary schools. Based on the findings, the study recommends that; the government should employ qualified teacher-counsellors, establish guidance and counselling facilities, enhance strong school management support and training to the teacher-counsellors. In the same vein, parents have to be given education on the importance of participating fully in providing guidance and counselling services to their children. This will help to improve the provision of good guidance and counselling services |
|