School Management Attitudes as Determinants of Implementation of Guidance and Counselling Services in Secondary Schools in Baringo Central Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Guidance and counselling constitute the best approach to help children and their families deal with life’s frustrating issues. In the school context, guidance and counselling services assist the school to manage discipline and deal with the influence of so cial evils on learners and the learning environment. However, for guidance and counselling services to be effective in schools, several factors must be put in place. Among these factors, the key is school management support for guidance and counselling ser vices. In recognition of this fact, the study examined the influence of the schools’ management attitudes towards guidance and counselling on the implementation of guidance and counselling programmes in secondary schools in Baringo Central Sub - County. The study used the descriptive survey research method. It relied on a sample of 36 secondary schools with 36 principals and 72 teacher - counsellors. The research employed a questionnaire to collect the data. The collected data was then analysed using SPSS, vers ion 22. The results of the study revealed that although most schools’ managers had e mbraced and recognised the role of guidance and counselling in their schools , little time and resources were availed to sustain these important services. This situation had negatively affected the implementation of guidance and counselling in schools. Therefore, it was recommended that guidance should be conceptualised in a broader and more comprehensive and holistic view, incorporating vocational and other aspects of