Investigating the role of School guidance and counseling in education for sustainable development: A case of selected Secondary Schools in Luwingu and Kasama Districts

Abstract

Despite government initiatives and efforts of introducing School guidance and counseling services in Secondary schools, this utility service does not seem to be very viable. The purpose of this research was to investigate the role of School guidance and counseling in Education for Sustainable Development, in selected Secondary schools in Luwingu and Kasama districts of Northern Province. The objectives of the study were to investigate implementation of the School guidance and counselling teaching syllabus; to explore ways the School guidance and counselling syllabus could contribute to the attainment of Education for Sustainable Development, and to ascertain whether curriculums offered in Secondary schools were career – oriented. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches, with the survey design as a research technique. Semi – structured interview schedules were used to obtain information from respondents. Face to face interviews were conducted with Headteachers, Guidance teachers and Education Standards Officers, while focus group discussions were held with pupils as exploratory tools. One hundred and twenty - one (121) respondents were interviewed, comprising nine (9) Headteachers, nine (9) Guidance teachers, seven (7) Standards Officers and ninety – six (96) secondary school pupils. Some of the findings of the study were that: The syllabus was not implemented in some schools; there were no trained manpower in schools; there were no guidance and counselling teaching and learning aids in Schools, and that some curriculums offered in schools were not career - oriented. However, guidance and conselling was identified as being a sine - quanon, sinew and quasi - holy and that all respondents interviewed were positive about re - aligning curriculums towards Education for Sustainable Development. Based on the findings stated above, some of the recommendations made by this study were that: School guidance and counselling should be time – tabled, Government should recruit more trained human resource; there was need to diversify curriculums by re - aligning them towards Education for Sustainable Development; positions for Guidance teachers should be formalized and that there was an urgent need for government to strengthen School guidance and counselling services in all institutions of learning, and to purchase and distribute guidance and counseling teaching and learning materials to all of them.