INFLUENCE OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN IKA NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

The study investigated the influence of guidance and counselling on the academic performance of students in public secondary schools in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State. Four research questions were formulated to guide the investigation. The study was anchored on the Developmental Guidance Theory and the Person-Centered Theory, which provided the theoretical framework for understanding the role of counselling in students' personal and academic development. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The target population comprised 5,110 students across public secondary schools in the area, from which a sample of 98 respondents was selected using a purposive sampling technique to ensure equal representation. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and face-to-face interaction with the respondents. The research instrument was subjected to validation by the researcher's supervisor and experts in educational psychology and guidance and counselling to ensure content validity. Reliability was established through a pilot study, and the instrument yielded a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.80, indicating a high level of internal consistency. The findings of the study revealed that students perceived guidance and counselling services as beneficial to their personal and academic development. Specifically, students agreed that such services helped them develop self-awareness, set academic and personal goals, improve self-confidence, and enhance behavioural outcomes. Furthermore, the study showed that guidance and counselling positively influenced students’ academic performance by promoting effective study habits, stress management, motivation, and discipline. However, the study also identified notable challenges, including low awareness among students, inconsistent availability of counselling services, and poor integration of guidance sessions into school schedules. Based on the findings, it was concluded that guidance and counselling services play a vital role in promoting the holistic development of students; academically, emotionally, and socially in public secondary schools within Ika North East Local Government Area. The researcher therefore recommended that government and school administrators should ensure that every public secondary school is staffed with at least one trained and certified guidance counsellor. It was also recommended that counselling sessions should be made a regular feature of the schools timetable to normalize usage and improve participation.