Practices and challenges of counseling services in preparatory schools of Wollega Zones

Pages: 988-997
Enkosa Terefe and Getu Tadele (Department of Behavioral Sciences, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Wollega University, Ethiopia)

The major purpose of this study was to assess the current practice of provision of counseling services rendering in preparatory schools of Wollega Zones. It was designed to assess students and staff members’ awareness and attitude towards counselors and counseling services, counselor’s practical activities and delivery systems of counseling services and assessed the major challenges hinder counselors in giving counseling services. The targets of the study were East Wollega and West Wollega zones which were randomly selected from four Wollega Zones. Five Preparatory schools were purposely selected from the two selected Wollega Zones. The study involved counselors, school Directors, teachers and students. Accordingly, 10 Counselors and 10 Directors were selected by availability sampling method. From 167 Teachers, 50 of them were selected by simple random sampling method. From 5033 students, 350 of them were selected randomly after stratifying within their grade levels and sections. Both close-ended and open-ended questionnaires were administered and distributed for Counselors, Teachers and Students. Semi-structured interview was designed for school directors. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to analyze and interpret the obtained data. These were descriptive and inferential statistical values such as percentages, mean, standard deviation, t-test, one way ANOVA and Post-hoc test. Interview response summary was analyzed qualitatively. The result of the study revealed that, school members have low awareness towards counseling services, positive attitude towards counselors and counseling services. Counselors reported as they render both guidance and counseling services where predominantly guidance service is given. The outcome of t-test and one way ANOVA dictated as there was statistically significant difference between male and female students use counseling services in terms of sex and age respectively. Post-hoc test showed as the three age groups (1620, 21-25 & above 25 years) being compared all are significantly different from each other. Counselors reported as they face many challenges to render effective counseling services.