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Abstract

Student indiscipline remains a persistent challenge in Ghanaian secondary schools despite the institutionalisation of Guidance and Counselling (G&C) services as a non-punitive strategy for behaviour management. The study examined the effectiveness of G&C services in promoting student discipline in selected senior high schools within the Sunyani Municipality. Adopting a descriptive quantitative design, data were collected from 187 teachers across three schools using a structured questionnaire. The instrument’s reliability was confirmed through a pilot test (Cronbach’s α = 0.84), and data were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequencies, means, and standard deviations. Findings indicated that G&C services were moderately available, with counselling offices and designated counsellors present in most schools. Counselling was perceived as effective in fostering respectful behaviour, emotional control, and academic engagement, although its impact on chronic behavioural issues and conflict resolution was moderate. Major constraints included the shortage of trained counsellors, limited time for counselling activities, and inadequate resources. The study concludes that while G&C structures exist, operational weaknesses reduce their overall effectiveness. It recommends that the Ghana Education Service employ full-time professional counsellors, provide adequate facilities, and strengthen policy frameworks to enhance counselling delivery and sustain discipline management in Ghanaian senior high schools.

Keywords

Guidance and Counselling Peer Counselling Student Discipline Behaviour Management Secondary Schools Ghana

Article Details

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Gloria Asamoah, Department of Social Science, Catholic University of Ghana

 

 
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