Counsellors' Participation in In-Service Training Programmes For Quality Assurance in Counselling Services in Secondary Schools in Anambra State, Nigeria

This study examined counsellors’ participation in in-service training programmes for quality assurance in counselling services in secondary schools in Anambra State. Three research questions guided the study. The descriptive survey research design was employed in the study. Population of the study constituted all the 259 counsellors within 259 secondary schools in Anambra State. The sample of the study constituted 155 counsellors drawn from the entire population of counsellors from 155 secondary schools in Anambra State selected at 60% (percent) using the stratified random sampling technique. A questionnaire personally constructed by the researchers, which had 21-items and titled: “Counsellors’ Participation in In-Service Training Programmes for Quality Assurance in Counselling Services Questionnaire (CPISTPQACSQ)” was the instrument for data collection. The questionnaire was validated by three experts from Guidance and Counselling Department and Measurement and Evaluation Department. Reliability of the instrument was established through a pilot by sampling 15 counsellors from secondary schools in Enugu State and data collected were measured using Cronbach Alpha statistical method which yielded an internal consistency reliability value of 0.79, showing that the instrument was reliable. Data were analyzed using simple percentages and mean scores. Findings of the study indicated that the percentage of counsellors’ that participated in in-service training programmes for quality assurance in counselling services in secondary schools in Anambra State was minimal and low. Their participation in on-the-job and off-the-job in-service training programmes was low as well indicating that the counsellors did not show much participation in these training programmes investigated. Based on the findings of this study recommendations were made and among them include that the State Government in collaboration with the Anambra State Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC) should support counsellors’ active participation in in-service training programmes through adequate funding, bursary, sponsorship and scholarship.