Constraints on group counseling in mixed secondary schools in Ekiti north senatorial district of Ekiti-State, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of the study was to find out whether our secondary schools are properly and effectively staff with trained counselors, to assess the adequacy of facilities available in our schools, whether enough facilities are available for effective group counseling, to identify the problems that may arise in grouping session and to highlight actions of school administrators that may hinder group counseling in secondary schools. The research designs employed were the survey method and questionnaire with selected secondary schools in Ekiti North Senatorial District of Ekiti State, Nigeria, between May 2011 and November 2011.The sample comprised fifty (50) secondary schools in five (5) local government areas. Five research questions were administered. The researcher designed a questionnaire with structured response items and open-ended-response items and administered on - the spot which facilitated a 100% return. The counselors of the fifty mixed secondary schools in the areas formed the population of study. The questionnaire incorporates both structure and open-ended response items. Respondents were asked to tick (√) against the correct responses to each of the structured items and supply necessary information in the space provided for each of the open-ended items. The percentages were computed for each of the response under each item in the questionnaire. Then, Two-way ANOVA was used for the hypotheses. The results were obtained by checking the total frequency of each response ticked (√) or written - out) under each item by the respondents, divide the calculated number by the total number of subjects (Population) and multiply the product by 100. There is paucity of trained counselors in the secondary schools, adequate facilities are not provided for counseling, principals do not encourage group counseling in their schools though they are not ignorant of its potency and some problems emanated from the idea of grouping male and female for counseling purposes in mixed secondary schools.