School Counsellors’ and Students’ Perceptions of the Benefits of School Guidance and Counselling Services in Zimbabwean Secondary Schools

Abstract

The study sought to establish the benefits of school guidance and counselling (SGC) services in Zimbabwe secondary schools as perceived by students and school counsellors. The study is a part of a larger study on an assessment of the effectiveness of school guidance and counselling services in Zimbabwean secondary schools. The survey design was used in this study. The sample comprised of 950 participants of which three hundred and fourteen (165 males and 149 females) were school counsellors while 636 (314 boys and 322 girls) were students. Data were collected using questionnaires in this study. The SAS/SAT statistical package version 9.1 was used to analyze the data. The analysis included tabulation and computation of chi-square test, frequencies, percentages and ratios. The study found that both school counsellors and students believed that the services resulted in personal-social, career and vocational benefits. Overall, both school counsellors and students rated the Zimbabwean SGC services fairly.