CONTRIBUTION OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING IN ADDRESSING EARLY PREGNANCIES AMONG GIRLS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Keywords:
Guidance, Counselling, Early pregnancy, Negative perceptionAbstract
This study investigated the contribution of guidance and counseling in addressing early pregnancy among girls in secondary schools. The study was conducted in Central District Unguja, located at South Region in Zanzibar. The study has applied a qualitative research approach during the process of gathering and analysing the data. The total sample size is 65: by five (5) teacher counselors, fifty (50) students, five (5) head teachers and five (5) discipline teachers from five selected schools. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and documentary reviews. The data was analyzed thematically and the results revealed academic guidance was the most kind of guidance and counseling service offered in secondary schools. The study found that guidance and counseling for prevention of early pregnancy was indirectly delivered through academic. The finding also indicated that in studied areas guidance and counseling were not taken as effective ways to solve the problems. Furthermore, the results showed that different problems hampered effective provision of the services to students. The problems include girls students’ negative perceptions towards the service, lack of designed area for provision of service, lack of skilled counselors and lack of financial support from stake holders. It is therefore recommended that the guidance and counseling services in schools should be directed towards reducing early pregnancies in schools. Head teachers should also take into consideration their supervisory control of the guidance and counseling programmes to encourage teacher counselors to perform their responsibilities with seriousness and effectiveness in accordance with government policies. Also, the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training should inform all teachers the significance of the students’ willingness to inform and discuss their difficulties with them.
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