CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING UTILIZATION OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING SERVICES AMONG STUDENTS IN NATIONAL SCHOOLS IN MERU AND THARAKA NITHI COUNTIES, KENYA

Abstract

Guidance and Counseling is a process of helping the individual find solutions to own problems and accept them. The provision of Guidance and Counseling to all students in secondary schools in Kenya is fundamental to the success of the Government's overall education development strategy. However, various cultural factors may hinder students' willingness to engage counseling services in solving their inherent problems which is still a persistent problem facing education in Kenya. The purpose of this study is to investigate cultural factors affecting utilization of Guidance and Counseling service, among students in national schools in Meru and Tharaka-Nithi Counties, Kenya. The study was conducted using descriptive survey research design and the target population was 3702 subjects comprising four head teachers, four Guidance and Counseling teachers and 3694 students. The sample size for this study was 377 respondents comprising four head teachers, four Guidance and Counseling teachers and 369 students selected through purposive and stratified random sampling. The research questionnaires were piloted in two national schools in Embu County and involved two head teachers and two guidance and counseling teachers and four students. Reliability of the questionnaire was tested through test-retest method. Quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 for windows. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze quantitative data. The study makes the conclusion that Guidance and Counseling in Kenyan secondary schools need to be re-emphasized to address cultural factors that affect its utilization. Involvement of all stakeholders including parents, teachers, and opinion leaders in sensitizing the community to shun factors such as cultural beliefs, taboos and myths in education provision was among the recommendations made. The Ministry of Education should introduce mandatory in-service training in Guidance and Counseling for teacher counselors with no basic training in Guidance and Counseling.