Guidance and counseling on students’ academic performance in secondary schools in Ndia Division, Kirinyaga district-Kenya

Abstract

This study was specifically designed and conducted to investigate the relationship between guidance and counseling and academic performance of secondary school students in Ndia Division, Kirinyaga District. The study focused on examining the level of guidance and counseling, level of students’ academic achievement and the relationship between guidance and counseling and students’ academic performance in Secondary schools in Ndia Division. The researcher applied a co relational study design using quantitative approach to derive meaning from quantitative data generated. The main research instrument used to obtain data during the study was Likert scaled questionnaire adopted and modified to suit the objectives of the study. Data collection was guided by the research questions and objectives. A total of 124 respondents were purposely and randomly sampled from the eight secondary schools in the district. Results from the study and analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between guidance and counseling and the academic performance of students. Revelations from the study further indicated that there are still very low levels of academic performance of secondary school students in this division. The level of guidance and counseling was found to be fairly adequate. The study recommended that the government should incorporate guidance and counseling units within each school so as to bring closer these services to the students