The effectiveness of guidance and counseling programmes in secondary schools in Marondera, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Following the adoption of the recommendations of the 1999 Presidential Commission of enquiry into Education and Training, the Ministry of Education, Sport, Art and Culture in the year 2005 came up with the Director Circular Minute Number 23 which sought to strengthen and institutionalize guidance and counseling in all schools. This circular minute laid the foundation for information, framework and policy implementation guidelines towards the institutionalization of guidance and counseling programme in schools. The major question being raised now is how effective are guidance and counseling programmes in schools in light of the many challenges students are going through today. Observations today have also pointed to the fact that even the pass rate at O-level which used to hover above 30% has suddenly plummeted to below 15%. This study establishes that the guidance and counseling programmes in secondary schools are not implemented properly in Zimbabwe. The study recommends government commitment and professionalism among other recommendations in the implementation of guidance and counselling programmes in secondary schools in Zimbabwe.

KEYWORDS: Guidance, counseling, effectiveness, programmes, secondary schools.