Abstract
The emergence of the increases in the rate of different social vices among the adolescents in high schools calls for re-evaluation and updating of the existing operating counselling services in secondary schools' educational system. The study examined the challenges of the newly qualified school counsellors and the solution proffered. Six research questions were raised to guide the study. It adopted a mixed-method research approach. The results of the findings revealed that the lack of recognition of the role of counsellors in the school system was rated the highest among the challenges experienced by newly-qualified counsellors, non-referral of students who need to be sent to a counsellor by teachers was rated second. From the findings of the study of the awareness campaign on the importance of counselling through various media, the finding “more time should be allotted to practicum for counsellors in training” was the highest-rated as the solution to the challenges experienced by newly-qualified counsellors. The results obtained from the study also revealed that male counsellors might be experiencing different challenges from their female counterparts. The results of the study also show a significant difference in the challenges experienced by newly qualified counsellors based on school type. The findings revealed that there is a significant difference in the solution provided by newly qualified counsellors based on gender. The results also show that the solution provided by a counsellor from private schools does not differ from that of their public schools’ counterpart. Based on the findings of the study recommendations were made: government should provide public enlightenment programmes to parents, school administrators, teachers, and students through jingles, posters, billboards on the need to embrace counselling in the school system and make use of the facility. National University commission should revise the counsellor training programme and increase the period allocated for practicum for the counsellor in training in order to equip them for the tasks ahead.
 Keywords: challenges, solutions, experiences, newly qualified counsellors
Highlights
The emergence of the increases in the rate of different social vices among the adolescents in high schools calls for re-evaluation and updating of the existing operating counselling services in secondary schools' educational system
The findings of the study revealed that the lack of recognition of the role of counsellors in the school system is the highest-rated challenge experienced by newly-qualified counsellors (3.42), non-referral of student who needs to be sent to the counsellor by teachers is rated as the second challenge (3.24)
It has been observed that the lack of recognition of the role of counsellors in the school system is the major challenge experienced by newly-qualified counsellors
Summary
The emergence of the increases in the rate of different social vices among the adolescents in high schools calls for re-evaluation and updating of the existing operating counselling services in secondary schools' educational system. The issue of drug abuse, cultism, gangsterism, violent behaviours, bullying and truancy, classroom indiscipline, examination malpractices, aggression, sexual promiscuity is more pronounced among secondary school students. This trend is having multiple ripple negative effects on the academic development of the students and the society at large. Different pressures from the home front and exposure to different unhealthy conditions in the society are some of the major factors affecting the students' total welfare, academic growth and achievement at school This is because an individual needs a sound mind to be able to benefit maximally in the learning process. Given the trends of the social and moral decadence among adolescents in schools, there is a need to overhaul the existing counselling services and strategies at schools
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
