Masum Billah :
In modern days the student life is influenced by moral degradation of the society, satellite channels, use of internet and other known social complexities including political turmoil and chaos. These factors seriously affect the usual course of teaching learning situation in our educational institutions. So, today’s student life is getting complex day by day. Usual way of dealing with the students cannot fulfill the demands of today’s students and address the problems they face during this period. Many developing countries have student counselors in the secondary level let alone university level. In developed countries it is treated just as a principal subject .Guidance and counselling is needed to help the students for optimum achievement and adequate adjustment in the varied life situations.
According to Willey and Andrew counseling involves two individuals one seeking help and other a professionally trained person helps solve problems to orient and direct him towards a goal. Counseling services are therefore required for individuals having developmental problems because of the handicap they suffer in any area of emotional either because of hereditary factors or environment conditions. Counselling is a very important ingredient in shaping students’ behaviour and performance especially in schools. Students with various problems in schools need to be listened to properly to counsel them. Some school administrators and owners think that senior teachers and religious leaders can counsel these students whenever they go to class for a lesson or meet in dormitories or on the compound. In a school setting nowadays, there are many cases which need to be handled by a trained counsellor. These include; psychological, family issues and above all indiscipline cases; which, if not handled professionally, can lead students to making wrong and uninformed decisions. Some students watch pornography which poisons their mind to an extent that even when the teacher is in class, they just pretend to be studying, when their mind is somewhere else.
The qualities of a good counsellor include; empathy, strong sense of judgment, listening skills, ability to follow up the students already counseled and above all, to give recommendations to the administration to solve some issues. A counsellor should also develop confidential relationships with students to help them resolve and cope with problems and challenges. School counsellors also serve a vital role in maximizing students’ success according to Hapan Gysbers and Kayson in their publication ‘Leadership Advocacy and Collaboration.’ counsellors promote equity and access to rigorous educational experiences for all students they also coordinate ongoing systematic activities designed to help students establish personal and develop future plans. Counsellors have a friendly and professional approach they give to the whole process of helping the learners, because they give it time and keep following up the students to assess the progress. They make appointments with various problematic students referred to them by the teachers.
Majority of students lack a sense of direction, a sense of purpose and a sense of fulfillment and include in destructive activities, which lead to social damage and loss. Adequate guidance and counselling facilities is the only answer to help and guide the youth to worthwhile channels and help them to realize the goals of optimum academic personal and social development.
Problems and needs in society are nothing new. But today they seem to be proliferating unprecedented rate. The unique problems in the changing family, cities in up level, conflicts in values, attitudes and moral, the new criticism about politics, economic factors the changing role of work, new pressure and demands on school and the problems of the youth all points out the needs for the counselling services. Adolescence is best defined in relation to puberty. This is period, which begins with puberty and ends with the several cessation of physical growth; it emerges from the later childhood and merges into adulthood. Adolescence is a critical period in the development of personal identity. A.T.Jersild observes adulthood is that span of years during which boys and girls move from childhood to adulthood mentally, emotionally, socially and physically. It’s a very dangerous period to commit any sort of undesired activity which can be minimized by proper counseling.
The general public tends to view counselling as a remedial function and emphasizes immediate goals, such as problem solution, tension reduction and the like .counselee may refer to the resolution of a particular conflict or problem situation. Counselling in its spirit and essence is generative it aims at assisting the individual to develop such that he becomes psychologically mature and is capable of realizing his potentialities optimally. The Secondary school counselling needs a meaningful, realistic, practical frame of reference constituent with the short term nature at school counselling.One of the aims of education policy is to create safe, caring schools, free from violence and abuse for each and every child in schools. School counselling service plays an important role in offering personal support to students in developing their overall wellbeing with respect to their social, emotional, behavioural and academic development. Counselling can act as an early intervention strategy that create awareness in students to look at their problems from different angles and manage their academic, emotional and behavioural difficulties and be more successful both in school and at home.
Students are given advice on how to deal with emotional conflicts and personal problems both in school and how to incorporate the same in their daily life when they are counseled. Some sessions involve career guidance where students are advised on which courses to do and which jobs to expect when one does a particular course. Students are given solutions on how to deal with psychological problems which might affect their studies. Through this, the students are able to develop problem solving skills which to an extent helps them deal with particular issues surrounding their lives. It helps to shape a student’s behavior and instill discipline in them. Students who are guided and counseled in a right way tend to know what to do and how to do such things. Students get to learn how to live in harmony with others in the school community. In so doing, they also learn to appreciate the people around them and come to harmony with their environment. It bridges the gap between the students and the school administration as well.
If the students can be prepared for facing the real challenges of the 21st century through academic, career, and personal/social development, they will be able to relate educational program to future success. They will also develop decision-making and problem solving skills and broaden knowledge of our changing world.
The number of students need counseling may prove small in number, five to seven percent in a population, still they should be counseled as the negative force influences much. Counseling involves a lot of time for the client to unfold the problem, gain an insight in to the complex situation. There is an urgent need of introducing and strengthening the counseling service in the schools and colleges of our country to meet the various needs of the students.
Along with the intellectual development proper motivation and clarification of goals and ideas to pupils in conformity with their basic potentialities and social tendencies are important for their overall development. They should be made ready to face new challenges of new days.
References:
(i) Guidance and Counseling for teachers parents and students Sister.Mary Wishala SN(ii) Fundamental Principles of Guidance & Counselling. -R.Sharma(iii) Fundamentals of Guidance and Counselling- R. S. Sharma(iv) Guidance and Counselling-A. K. Nayak (v)Guidance and Counselling- A.David(vi) Elementary Guidance and Counselling- Reshmi Agarwall
In modern days the student life is influenced by moral degradation of the society, satellite channels, use of internet and other known social complexities including political turmoil and chaos. These factors seriously affect the usual course of teaching learning situation in our educational institutions. So, today’s student life is getting complex day by day. Usual way of dealing with the students cannot fulfill the demands of today’s students and address the problems they face during this period. Many developing countries have student counselors in the secondary level let alone university level. In developed countries it is treated just as a principal subject .Guidance and counselling is needed to help the students for optimum achievement and adequate adjustment in the varied life situations.
According to Willey and Andrew counseling involves two individuals one seeking help and other a professionally trained person helps solve problems to orient and direct him towards a goal. Counseling services are therefore required for individuals having developmental problems because of the handicap they suffer in any area of emotional either because of hereditary factors or environment conditions. Counselling is a very important ingredient in shaping students’ behaviour and performance especially in schools. Students with various problems in schools need to be listened to properly to counsel them. Some school administrators and owners think that senior teachers and religious leaders can counsel these students whenever they go to class for a lesson or meet in dormitories or on the compound. In a school setting nowadays, there are many cases which need to be handled by a trained counsellor. These include; psychological, family issues and above all indiscipline cases; which, if not handled professionally, can lead students to making wrong and uninformed decisions. Some students watch pornography which poisons their mind to an extent that even when the teacher is in class, they just pretend to be studying, when their mind is somewhere else.
The qualities of a good counsellor include; empathy, strong sense of judgment, listening skills, ability to follow up the students already counseled and above all, to give recommendations to the administration to solve some issues. A counsellor should also develop confidential relationships with students to help them resolve and cope with problems and challenges. School counsellors also serve a vital role in maximizing students’ success according to Hapan Gysbers and Kayson in their publication ‘Leadership Advocacy and Collaboration.’ counsellors promote equity and access to rigorous educational experiences for all students they also coordinate ongoing systematic activities designed to help students establish personal and develop future plans. Counsellors have a friendly and professional approach they give to the whole process of helping the learners, because they give it time and keep following up the students to assess the progress. They make appointments with various problematic students referred to them by the teachers.
Majority of students lack a sense of direction, a sense of purpose and a sense of fulfillment and include in destructive activities, which lead to social damage and loss. Adequate guidance and counselling facilities is the only answer to help and guide the youth to worthwhile channels and help them to realize the goals of optimum academic personal and social development.
Problems and needs in society are nothing new. But today they seem to be proliferating unprecedented rate. The unique problems in the changing family, cities in up level, conflicts in values, attitudes and moral, the new criticism about politics, economic factors the changing role of work, new pressure and demands on school and the problems of the youth all points out the needs for the counselling services. Adolescence is best defined in relation to puberty. This is period, which begins with puberty and ends with the several cessation of physical growth; it emerges from the later childhood and merges into adulthood. Adolescence is a critical period in the development of personal identity. A.T.Jersild observes adulthood is that span of years during which boys and girls move from childhood to adulthood mentally, emotionally, socially and physically. It’s a very dangerous period to commit any sort of undesired activity which can be minimized by proper counseling.
The general public tends to view counselling as a remedial function and emphasizes immediate goals, such as problem solution, tension reduction and the like .counselee may refer to the resolution of a particular conflict or problem situation. Counselling in its spirit and essence is generative it aims at assisting the individual to develop such that he becomes psychologically mature and is capable of realizing his potentialities optimally. The Secondary school counselling needs a meaningful, realistic, practical frame of reference constituent with the short term nature at school counselling.One of the aims of education policy is to create safe, caring schools, free from violence and abuse for each and every child in schools. School counselling service plays an important role in offering personal support to students in developing their overall wellbeing with respect to their social, emotional, behavioural and academic development. Counselling can act as an early intervention strategy that create awareness in students to look at their problems from different angles and manage their academic, emotional and behavioural difficulties and be more successful both in school and at home.
Students are given advice on how to deal with emotional conflicts and personal problems both in school and how to incorporate the same in their daily life when they are counseled. Some sessions involve career guidance where students are advised on which courses to do and which jobs to expect when one does a particular course. Students are given solutions on how to deal with psychological problems which might affect their studies. Through this, the students are able to develop problem solving skills which to an extent helps them deal with particular issues surrounding their lives. It helps to shape a student’s behavior and instill discipline in them. Students who are guided and counseled in a right way tend to know what to do and how to do such things. Students get to learn how to live in harmony with others in the school community. In so doing, they also learn to appreciate the people around them and come to harmony with their environment. It bridges the gap between the students and the school administration as well.
If the students can be prepared for facing the real challenges of the 21st century through academic, career, and personal/social development, they will be able to relate educational program to future success. They will also develop decision-making and problem solving skills and broaden knowledge of our changing world.
The number of students need counseling may prove small in number, five to seven percent in a population, still they should be counseled as the negative force influences much. Counseling involves a lot of time for the client to unfold the problem, gain an insight in to the complex situation. There is an urgent need of introducing and strengthening the counseling service in the schools and colleges of our country to meet the various needs of the students.
Along with the intellectual development proper motivation and clarification of goals and ideas to pupils in conformity with their basic potentialities and social tendencies are important for their overall development. They should be made ready to face new challenges of new days.
References:
(i) Guidance and Counseling for teachers parents and students Sister.Mary Wishala SN(ii) Fundamental Principles of Guidance & Counselling. -R.Sharma(iii) Fundamentals of Guidance and Counselling- R. S. Sharma(iv) Guidance and Counselling-A. K. Nayak (v)Guidance and Counselling- A.David(vi) Elementary Guidance and Counselling- Reshmi Agarwall
(Masum Billah, Program Manager: BRAC Education Program and a researcher in the field of secondary education (The writer taught in Ghatail Cantonment College, Sylhet,Comilla an Mirzapur Cadet College and Rajuk Uttara Model College. He regularly writes on various national and international issues along with educational issues) Email: [email protected] )
