Abstract:

The study sought to establish the status of school guidance and counselling (SGC) services needs assessment in Zimbabwe secondary schools as perceived by students and school counsellors. The survey design was used in this study. The sample for the study was made up of 950 participants. Three hundred and fourteen (165 males and 149 females) were school counsellors while 636 (314 boys and 322 girls) were students. Questionnaires (one for school counsellors and the other for students) were used to collect the data. The SAS/SAT statistical package version 9.1 was used to analyze the data. The analysis included tabulation and computation of chi-square test, frequencies, percentages and ratios. The study revealed that there were significant differences in the rating of the frequency of assessing the needs of students, teachers and parents among school counsellors and students. Both school counsellors and students perceived various groups of people to be involved in Zimbabwean SGC services needs assessment. However, both groups viewed the involvement of parents substantially negatively. Both school counsellors and students positively viewed year end results, informal student conversation and brain storming as methods used in SGC services needs assessment. It was recommended that all key stakeholders who include parents and students should have their SGC services needs assessed. It was also recommended that parents should be more involved in SGC services needs assessment. SGC services needs assessment was to be done effectively if all stakeholders were involved. The stakeholders needed to be trained in needs assessment and their needs assessment roles needed to be clearly defined.

Keywords:

needs assessment, guidance, counselling, zimbabwe.