EDUCATIONAL GUIDANCE AS DETERMINANT OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OYO EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

This study investigated the role of educational guidance as a determinant of academic performance among junior secondary school students in Oyo East Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and sampled 100 students across public and private junior secondary schools using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequency counts and thematic analysis. Five research questions were raised to direct the study. Findings revealed that educational guidance significantly enhances academic performance by improving students’ study habits, motivation, emotional well-being, and access to academic resources. Both male and female students benefited from guidance services, though in varied ways. Private school students outperformed their public school counterparts, primarily due to better access to structured guidance services, such as counseling, tutoring, and mentoring. The study concluded that educational guidance is a vital tool in improving academic outcomes and recommended that policymakers strengthen guidance programes, especially in under-resourced public schools.