Education stakeholders are urging schools to ensure the presence of effective guidance counsellors who can actively support students’ academic, emotional, and social growth. Many schools currently have counsellors in name only, often lacking proper resources, training, or the ability to engage meaningfully with students.

Importance of Guidance Counsellors

Guidance counsellors play a vital role in helping students with academic planning, career choices, mental health, and personal development. They provide a confidential space where students can seek advice, manage stress, and make informed decisions about higher education and career paths. Experts stress that counsellors should actively interact with students rather than simply holding a designated position.

Current Challenges

Despite their importance, many schools do not have fully functional counselling services. Counsellors are sometimes assigned administrative tasks instead of student support, or they lack the professional expertise to handle complex psychological or career-related issues. This gap is concerning, especially with increasing exam pressures, mental health concerns, and uncertainty about career paths among students.

Recommendations

Educationists are calling on authorities to:

• Employ professionally trained guidance counsellors in all secondary and tertiary institutions.
• Provide continuous training and supervision to ensure counsellors can meet student needs effectively.
• Incorporate counselling services into the school routine, making them an integral part of student life.
• Educate teachers, parents, and students about the role and benefits of guidance counselling.

Benefits of Functional Counselling

Well-established guidance programmes can help reduce stress, behavioral issues, and absenteeism, while improving academic performance and career preparedness. Students gain access to advice on college options, scholarships, and career opportunities, enabling them to make well-informed choices about their futures.

Education experts emphasize that for schools to develop resilient, informed, and well-prepared students, guidance counsellors must be fully functional rather than symbolic. Strengthening counselling services is a crucial investment in students’ long term success and the overall quality of education.