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Abstract

This study examines the impact of guidance and counselling services on students’ social adjustment and academic engagement in senior high schools in Ghana. Guidance and counselling programs play a critical role in fostering students' academic success, emotional well-being, and social integration. However, the extent to which these services are utilized and their effectiveness in improving students’ experiences remains underexplored. Employing a descriptive survey research design, the study sampled 394 senior high school students from various academic levels and programs. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that while orientation and academic counselling services received high patronage, personal counselling, follow-up, and evaluation services were underutilized. Students who actively engaged in counselling services exhibited better social adjustment, stronger peer relationships, and higher levels of academic motivation. However, challenges such as cultural stigma, inadequate access to trained counselors, and lack of structured follow-up mechanisms limited the effectiveness of these services. The study underscores the need for policy interventions to strengthen guidance programs, increase awareness campaigns, and integrate structured evaluation mechanisms to enhance students’ engagement and social development. Future research should explore intervention-based counseling models tailored to student's diverse needs. By addressing existing gaps, school administrators and policymakers can maximize the benefits of counseling services, ensuring holistic student development. This study contributes to the existing literature on educational psychology and student support services, offering empirical insights into how guidance interventions shape academic and social outcomes in Ghanaian senior high schools.

Keywords

Guidance and counselling social adjustment academic engagement senior high schools Ghanaian Enterprises Ghana

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