THE ORIENTATION SERVICE
LECTURE NOTES ON GUIDANCE SERVICESCOMPILED BY CLETUS BATTONTHE
ORIENTATION SERVICE DESCRIPTION It is a service provided to help
pupils who have been admitted into new schools adjust to their new
environment STUDENTS LEAVE THEIR COMFORT ZONE THUS:Socially
unsettledPsychologically unsettled WHY ORIENTATION IN SCHOOLS?It
removes the fear and anxiety which some new students may
have.School authorities use orientation programmes to explain
school rules and regulations to the studentsCONTDIt gives new
students the opportunity to ask school authorities questions.school
authorities educate newly admitted students on the appropriate
channels of communication in the school.CONTDNew students get to
know more about the school facilities at their disposal such as
library, counselling centre, sickbay, administration block and how
to access them. It helps new students to know much about their
subjects, how assessment is done and what is demanded of
them.CONTDIt enables new students socialize among themselves and
thus get to know each other better INFORMATION/DISTRIBUTIVE SERVICE
It is a service which provides pupils with information on social
and educational opportunities available so that they can make
informed choices CONTDThere are three categories of information
service. Viz:Career/occupation information Educational information
Personal information/ social issues CAREER/OCCUPATIONAL
INFORMATIONCAREER information consists of reliable and accurate
facts about jobs which students use in career planning, making wise
decisions and choices CONTD Career/Occupational information may
include:- positions, jobs available, duties, requirements for
employment, conditions of work, salaries, typical places of
employment and methods of advancement Educational Information This
may be defined as valid, up-to-date and reliable facts about
educational institutions and everything concerning the programmes
they offer EXAMPLES OF EDUCATIONAL INFORMATIONInstitutions and
their programmes and methods of admission into these institutions
Entry requirements School rules and regulationsClubs and Social
activities in the school/scholarships bursary and loans
CONTDAcademic Calendar Training programmes and
opportunitiesPersonal/Social Information It deals with information
which help a student to understand himself better and to improve
his relations with others EXAMPLESUnderstanding ones self Getting
along with others How to make friends and keep themInformation
about games and sports Sources of Information to
teachers/counsellors Paying a visit to places or sources of
informationFrom textbooksResource PersonsNewspaper CuttingsFrom the
Television, Video, Films, drama, plays How to give information to
PupilsCareer Conference/Convention Educational Days Visits Street
Surveys During Teaching Bulletin Boards
APPRAISAL SERVICEAppraisal service provides data that brings to
light the unique pictures of individuals by comparing each student
with others in terms of quantities of general human characteristics
HOW?Through ObservationInterview testing work sample analysis
REASONS FOR APPRAISING A PUPILS CHARACTERISTICSHelps the pupil to
understand himself or herself betterAssists the pupil to become
aware of the type of skills he or she has talents forEnables the
teacher to know and understand the pupil better CONTDProvides the
pupils with knowledge on how he or she is performingProvides the
teacher with information for counselling pupils
APPRAISAL METHODS These are often grouped into two: test non
test methodstest methods
Teacher Made Tests -TMTs are not standardized -TMTs are
achievement tests contdPsychological Tests -PTs are standardized
tests. i.e their reliability in measuring human attributes has been
established non test methodsObservation
Autobiography (two types-structured & unstructured )
Interview USING THE APPRAISAL DATA TO HELP PUPILS Appraisal data
can help pupils make wise academic and vocational choices
HOW CAN THIS BE DONE? CONTDOpen files and cumulative record
cards for pupils and enter their background and personal data from
school records Collect test scores as well as other relevant data
from teachers evaluation activities, enter them on pupils personal
folders and use information to help make decision CONTDUse
information to consult with teachers, parents and school
administrators and health authorities.
Use information on pupils ability and interest to help them
develop their talents.
Integrate the Appraisal Service into the schools programme
COUNSELLING SERVICE Counselling is a process by which a troubled
person is helped to feel and behave in a more personally satisfying
manner through interaction with an un-involved person (the
counsellor). Anagbogu (1991) From the definition it is clear that
:Counselling is a Process It means it is an ongoing or a continuous
activity.Two people are involved (counsellor & counselee)The
counsellor provides information in reaction to whatever the
counselee says.The behaviour of the counselee helps the counsellor
to examine his problem more closely CONTDWhen counselling is
between a counsellor and a counselee, it is termed as individual
counselling but when it is between a counsellor and two or more
people it is called group counselling. Four essential conditions
for successful counsellingRespect or regard for the
counseleeGenuineness of the counsellor in his interaction with the
counselee.The counsellor having empathic understanding for the
counseleeThe counsellor being specific in his responses(Counsellor
must be clear, accurate and straight forward) Important aspects of
counselling in schools Educational Counselling e.g. -study habits,
-inability to concentrate in class- a pupil having difficulty in
understanding the teacher, -failure in examination -not having
appropriate textbooks and workbooks for lessons.Career Counselling.
This will help pupils in the following ways; Motivate them to
aspire for higher level occupationsMake them aware of different
kinds of work available in their environmentCONTDDeal with their
fears about what work to do in the futureMotivate them to learn
pre-vocational skills as they stay at school. Personal-Social
Counselling-Pupils are counselled on issues concerning their
feelings, habits, their weaknesses and relationship problems.
Issues in P-S Counselling include:Conflicts (with teachers,
parents, friends)Feelings of frustration, guilt, sadness
etc.Unreasonable fear of darkness, people Undesirable Habits
(shyness, quarrelling, stealing etc.)In providing a counselling
service you need to:Make sure your pupils are aware of the
relevance of the serviceSecure an office where counselling sessions
can be held without disturbanceGet a competent team who can handle
effectively individual and group counselling CONTDInform pupils and
staff of the need to seek counselling or refer pupils to the
counselling centreDraw up a time table for the operation of the
centre so that pupils will know when to come thereCONTDArrange an
official opening of the service in the presence of teachers,
parents and pupils to create a better awareness of its
existenceMake sure that information you gather from pupil is kept
in confidence. CONSULTATION SERVICEConsultation service is the
aspect of guidance service which involves exchange of ideas among
teachers, parents, agencies and other guidance functionaries to
help students resolve their personal challenges and other issues
Consultation with parentsDiscussions on childrens general academic
performanceDiscussions on childrens performance in tests and
examinationsDiscussions on childrens behaviourSuggestions on the
role parents have to play to improve their childrens education.
Consultation with Counsellorthey are able to help the teacher
with classroom managementinterpretation of the childs behaviour and
collaboration with the teacher to seek for a pupil who needs
special help (finance/health).provide him with information on how
pupils behave, the way they learn and how they are
disciplinedConsulting with Head teacher:the academic performance of
your pupilssome materials needed for your teachingmeans of
maintaining good class disciplineinformation about your pupilsSome
problems involved in consultation
Lack of cooperation in the schoolLack of cooperation from some
parentsLack of cooperation on the part of students (suspicion)
PLACEMENT SERVICE
Placement is an aspect of the guidance service which makes
students aware of opportunities available in and outside the school
It helps pupils make correct educational and vocational choices and
personal adjustments in and outside the school (e.g.choice of
colleges or schools from JHS
