IMPACT OF COUNSELLING STRATEGIES IN ENHANCING STUDENTS' ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ABIA SOUTH SENATORIAL ZONE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT: The study assessed the impact of counselling strategies in enhancing students’ academic and entrepreneurial skills in Senior Secondary Schools in Abia South Senatorial Zone, Nigeria. The study was guided by two specific objectives, and two research questions and two null hypotheses focusing on the counselling strategies the counselors can adopt to improve students’ academic achievement skills. The research design adopted is correlational. The study used a sample size of 1000 students from a population of 18706 Senior Secondary School students. The study used simple random technique. The instruments for data collection are entrepreneurial skills, and achievement test. The instruments have reliability coefficient of 0.91 and 0.86 determined using Cronbach alpha reliability method and Kuder Richardson 20. Data collected were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment (PPMC) at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed notable impact on Senior Secondary School students’ acquisition of entrepreneurial skills. The study concludes that counselling strategies has impact on the development of academic achievement and entrepreneurial skills among senior secondary school students. The study recommends that the state school system should employ sufficient counselling personnel to help equip students with entrepreneurial skills to make them employees of labour after graduation.

Keywords: Counselling strategies, academic achievement, entrepreneurial skills, senior secondary school.