Why schools need professional counsellors

LIFE has never been so uncertain and complex like it is today. Children and youths in today’s classrooms are experiencing a wide range of unique challenges, such as abuse of all sorts, bullying, lack of student achievement, grief/death of family or friend, truancy, and so on. More worrisome is the fact that Nigeria has the highest number of school dropouts. These points and many more are a potential threat to a child’s/student’sacademic, personal/social and career success. Therefore, it is very crucial that schools at all levels of education have an on-site educator (counsellors) who is vast in current mental health practice of students at their various developmental stages. This educator must also have an in-depth knowledge of therapeutic techniques and their application and, at the same time, attuned to the confidentiality standard of both students and parents to help them overcome their challenges thereby achieving their goals. We must not fail to yield to the counsel of Frederick Douglass when he succinctly cautioned, “it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”!

As we know,every child is different, with different family history and experiences. It, therefore, requires the expertise of a professional counsellor to unearthing the diverse needs of the 21st-century learner.  Regrettably, it seems that parents, the press, administrators and even the general publicare oblivious of the role of professional counsellors in schools. It is also evident that not every classroom teacher has the prerequisite training to function as counsellors. Professional counsellors are complementary staff members of the 21st-century schooling system, an integral part of students’ daily educational environment. The word “complementary” stems from complement, which means “to bring perfection or completeness to something”. On this ground, therefore, we can conclude that our present educational system is incomplete and far from perfect, owing to the absence of professional counselling psychologists. Professional counselors play essential roles in schools. They help students in the areas of academic achievement, personal/social development, career development and ensuring that students become productive and well-adjusted adults in the future. As an integral part of the educational leadership team, they provide valuable assistance to all students.

The most intriguing question that this article seeks to provide answer to is twofold. First is to define a professional school counsellor, and second is to enumerate the roles of a professional school counsellor. Who is a professional school counsellor? S/he is a certified and licensed educator trained in school counselling with unique qualifications and skill to address every form of students’ academic, personal/social and career development needs.School counsellors are undoubtedly members of the educational system. Any responsive nation must not shy away from making use of their potentials. The 21st-century school counsellors are partners in students’ success and empower all students to lead a well-adjusted life tomorrow. The question posed at this time is how are the lives of students impacted as a result of the services of professional school counsellors? The elementary level of schooling also referred to as primary school is the most critical level of education. It is the foundation of all the child will be for better or for worse. Therefore, this emphasises the importance of professional counsellors at this level of education, where pupils are helped through classroom guidance, small group counselling or individual counselling to identify their innate strengths and weaknesses, as well as other behavioural problems, develop their academic self-concept, build competencies, develop decision making and communication skills. At this stage, pupils are also supported in building core character values, such as responsibility, respect, compassion, perseverance, self-discipline, excellence and integrity. It is also a time when the student develops and acquires attitude towards, peers, family and social groups.

A comprehensive school counselling program provides all students at this level of education with various prevention and intervention programs and models to overcome barriers to learning and improving students’ school connectedness by ensuring that every child learns in a safe, healthy and supportive environment. The role of the counsellor at this point in the student’s life is the early identification, intervention of children’s academic and personal/social needs and this is very crucial in removing barriers to learning and promoting academic achievement. Furthermore, the knowledge, attitude and skills students acquire in the area of educational, career and personal/social development are the foundation for their future success.  Again, counsellors are needed at the secondary level. First, for the Junior Secondary Level, also known as middle school, where students fall between the ages of 11 and 14. It implies that they are in transition from childhood to adolescence. This phase of development is both exciting and challenging not only for students and parents,but also for teachers as well.

The 21st-century Junior Secondary School (JSS) counsellor is a professional educator with the mental health perspectives, who understands and responds to the challenges of a diverse student population. During this transition period, JSS students are characterised by the need to make new friends, and are learning ways to manage their emotions. They are also navigating more complex relationships and exploring ways to connect their learning to its practical application to real-life situations. They are also engaged with high levels of activities, coupled with frequent fatigue owing to rapid growth, a search for their own unique identity as they begin to turn more frequently to peers rather than their parents for ideas and advocacy. Counsellors are also needed in the Senior Secondary School level of education because student here are in their final transition to adulthood and the labour market. There is a marked difference with students at this developmental stage, compared to the other stages of development. Here, students have the strong urge to break free from parents and explore, express and define their independence as they navigate the deep waters of life, far from the confines of their parents’ safety and protection.

This stage is very critical in the development of the students. Their experience at this level is that of excitement, frustration and disappointment and they need counsellors more than ever to help them navigate the complexity of life. It is at this level of schooling that counsellors through the healthy relationship they have built with individual student over time, help them to discover who they are as it relates to what the future holds for them. At this level, students are always in search for a place to belong and rely on peers for acceptance and feedback. They face increased pressure regarding risky behaviour while exploring the boundaries of more acceptable practices, and mature, meaningful relationships. Secondary school counsellors, therefore, enhance the learning process and promote academic gains.

Again, the programmes and models of a comprehensive school help all students at this level to develop 21st century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, self-direction and leadership. These programmes are modeled to inculcate professional leadership skills such as teamwork, time management, interpersonal skills and cultural awareness. At this point, it is interesting to note that the professional school counsellor provides a continuum of services. They spend 80 percent of their time working directly with students, providing services that have direct benefits to students through educational counselling, orientation programme, vocational counselling, socio-personal counselling, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS preventive counselling, continuous assessment/examination management, placement service and follow up service. They also work with parents, teachers and administrators to create a supportive learning environment for all students. In conclusion, the role of professional school counsellors cannot be understated.

• Tikili writes in from the University of Ibadan.