Guidance and counseling and girls' academic performance in Selected primary Schools in Kiryandongo District,Uganda.

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study was primarily established to examine the impact of guidance and counselling and girls’ academic performance in selected primary schools in Kiryandongo District, Uganda. The investigation had three objectives which include: to find out the effect of teachers’ guidance and counselling on girls’ academic performance; to examine the role of parents’ guidance and counselling on girls’ academic performance and to find out the contribution of community leaders’ guidance and counselling towards girls’ academic performance in selected primary schools in Kiryandongo District, Uganda. The study specifically adopted a cross-sectional survey design, and a sample of 278 was selected from a population of 1000. The study used purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The data collection tools were the questionnaires and interviews; and the data was analyzed by the use of computer software, SPSS, and its presentation was inform of tables, frequency, proportion and percentages and as well as, descriptive analytical statistics. The study found out that teachers moderately do conduct guidance and counseling to girls as they were mainly committed in the teaching of lessons; some girls would have good performance due to guidance and counseling. The study also revealed that most female teachers are not role model to girls. Most parents do help and encourage their girls to go to schools and also inspires them to study and perform well. However, most girls were not always seeking guidance and counseling from parents at home, parents do not have enough time to talk to their daughters at home. Equally so, the study also found out that community leaders/counselors rarely go to school to talk to/guide girls; some few girls are inspired by community leaders to have good grades. Most community leaders/counselors offer guidance during public functions like burials, weddings, use of radios among others than going and interacting with girls at schools. It was concluded that guidance and counseling is very instrumental for girls’ academic performance where active participation of teachers, parents and community leaders was highly needed. The study recommended that teachers, parents and community leaders should be encouraged to comprehensively engage in conducting guidance and counseling to girls because it would improve the quality of marks and standard of education of girls. Finally, key stakeholders like Ministry of Education and Sports among others should always be invited at schools to interact with girls in matters of their education. This will help girls expose and develop interest in studies, hence academic excellence and better future.