Guidance and counselling activities for preventing the challenges faced by adolescents in selected secondary schools in Choma District of Southern Province
Date
2016
Authors
Sinengela, Meyamui
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zambia
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to assess the school guidance and counseling activities for
preventing the challenges faced by adolescents. A descriptive survey design was used to
conduct this study. The sample size was 209 pupils and 4 guidance and counseling teachers
from selected secondary schools in Choma district. Simple random and purposive sampling
were used to select the sample. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from the
pupils while Semi-structured interviews were used to collect qualitative data from the
guidance and counseling teachers. Quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) in order to generate tables, graphs and percentages.
Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. Major themes were identified from the
data and coded.
The findings of the study revealed that there were various guidance and counseling activities
that were used in schools to educate the adolescents about the challenges of their
developmental stage and how to prevent them or cope with them. These methods include
classroom lessons, group discussions, role plays, peer education, the anti-AIDS club, antidrug
club, talks with the guidance and counseling teacher as well as games and sports. The
adolescents were mostly taught factual information about reproductive health, and drug and
alcohol abuse. Life skills education is rarely provided. The findings show that most of the
schools do not educate the adolescents on the effects of watching pornographic material.
The study concluded that guidance and counseling activities have a moderate influence on
behaviour change. On the basis of the findings, it was recommended that Guidance and
counseling teachers should use preventive education which combines information
dissemination, normative education and life skills education if any reasonable behaviour
change is to be observed. In addition, there is need for guidance and counseling teachers to
gather information about the effects of internet pornography on adolescent development so
that they can be able to educate the adolescents.
Description
Master of Education in Educational Psychology
Keywords
Counselling Services--Secondary Schools , Guidance Services--Secondary Schools