COUNSELING SERVICES AND STUDENTS' ATTITUDE TOWARDS INTRODUCTORY TECHNOLOGY IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

There have been significant differences in students' academic performance in introductory technology; many researchers have emphasized the importance of students' attitude variables as performance predictors, indicating that student attitudes and interests may play a significant role among students studying introductory technology. Ormerod & Duckworth (2005) bolstered this argument by stating that student attitudes are likely to play a considerable role in any adequate explanation for students' varying levels of success in their school science course.

The majority of Nigerian secondary schools have used a variety of strategies to achieve appropriate performance in introductory technology (Kehinde, 2001). Counseling services are the most popular, as most students become more aggressive when forced or other punitive methods are utilized against them.

Counseling may be described as the action of a counselor or other professional, whether in a school, hospital, or other institution, who counsels individuals on a variety of issues and concerns (Ikeotunye 2005).

Counseling services include evaluation, treatment, education, advice, and referral to assist students in maintaining their health and well-being.

Counseling's primary goal in secondary school is to assist students in making career choices, subjective selection, proper placement, and good study habits.

The researcher has seen that student activities such as subject mixing, lack of seriousness in studies, and substance usage may result in an incorrect profession decision. Due to these issues, students in junior secondary school (JSSIII) and senior secondary (SSI) should get thorough orientation on guidance and counseling.

Numerous scholars and authors, as well as professional organizations, international organizations, and government agencies, have remarked on the need of guidance and counseling services in schools over the years.

Oladele (1987), Kalu (1992), Umom (1998), Abdulkareem (2001), Dikko (2001), established the position and significance of guidance programs in the Nigerian educational system.

Dr. Nuhu A. Yakabu, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has remarked that "advice and counseling should be available at the secondary school level."

Yakubu (2002) observed that "every post-primary school should have a guidance and counseling department that should periodically host career seminars with eminent professionals as resource individuals."

The United Nations Organization (UNO) accepted the UNESCO report on the need for organized guidance services at the secondary school level, which stated that "African governments should perhaps consider providing more defined guidance for secondary school pupils in light of their economic, social, and cultural needs." Stronger direction than that found in Europe is more logical in Africa, since many families are incapable of making well-informed decisions regarding their children's future” (UNESCO 1962).

Counseling services in junior secondary schools will assist students in their subject selection and attitudes about various disciplines in the majority of secondary schools in Nigeria (Okon, 2004). Among other disciplines, introductory technology is one of the most disregarded by the majority of pupils in most junior secondary schools. Introduction to technology is a critical topic in secondary schools.

According to Ohikhema (1994), introductory technology introduces pupils to woodworking, metalworking, technical drawing, car mechanics, and electrical and electronics. Obomanu (2001) stated that Introductory Technology is a component of the general education curriculum that aims to provide students with learning experiences that help them understand industrial and technological aspects of life through instruction in selected areas of metalwork, woodwork, electricity, plastics, ceramics, textiles, and technical drawing. The researcher intends to investigate the counseling services and attitudes of junior secondary school pupils regarding introduction technology by utilizing Birnin Kebbi local government area of Kebbi State as a case study.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

What prompted the study was the widespread failure of introductory technology studies by the majority of students in Kebbi State's Birnin Kebbi local government area. This resulted in the establishment of counseling services. The purpose of guidance and counseling in secondary schools is to aid students in comprehending themselves, their issues, and resolving them without difficulty (Obomanu 2001). The researcher observed that despite counseling services provided in the majority of junior secondary schools in Birnin Kebbi, some students continue to drop out of school and others have a casual attitude toward the study of introductory technology; others engage in drug abuse and juvenile delinquency (Okoh, 2013). This has been a big source of concern for the researcher, which led to the choice to create this study in order to determine whether counseling services truly have the intended and expected effects on students.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The primary objective of this study is to examine counseling services and students' attitude towards introductory technology in junior secondary schools. Specifically but not limited to, other objectives of this study are:

i.          To determine the extent counselling services are used in junior secondary schools.

ii.        To determine whether counselling services has an effect on the academic performance of students in junior secondary schools.

iii.      To find out whether counselling services has improved students attitude towards introductory technology in junior secondary schools.

iv.      To find out the impact of counselling services on students in junior secondary schools.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

These questions will be answered in this study:

i.          To what extent counselling services are used in junior secondary schools?

ii.        Does counselling services have an effect on the academic performance of students in junior secondary schools?

iii.      Has counselling services improved students attitude towards introductory technology in junior secondary schools?

iv.      What are the impact of counselling services on students in junior secondary schools?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant for students, teachers, parents, and society as a whole, since its significance cannot be overstated. Students will benefit from this study if guidance and counseling teachers take an active part in assisting students in identifying personal, social, and academic difficulties and determining how to resolve them.

Finally, this study will serve as an added material for further research and future reference.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study’s main scope is to examine counseling services and students' attitude towards introductory technology in junior secondary schools. However, the study’s specific scope will be to determine the extent counselling services are used in junior secondary schools, to determine whether counselling services has an effect on the academic performance of students in junior secondary schools, to find out whether counselling services has improved students attitude towards introductory technology in junior secondary schools and to find out the impact of counselling services on students in junior secondary schools.

Teachers and students of selected secondary schools in Lafia, Nassarawa State will be the respondents of this study.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study’s main scope is delimited to examine counseling services and students' attitude towards introductory technology in junior secondary schools. However, the study’s specific scope will be delimited determine the extent counselling services are used in junior secondary schools, to determine whether counselling services has an effect on the academic performance of students in junior secondary schools, to find out whether counselling services has improved students attitude towards introductory technology in junior secondary schools and to find out the impact of counselling services on students in junior secondary schools.

Teachers and students of selected secondary schools in Lafia, Nassarawa State will be the respondents of this study, thus the sample size was limited because only a few respondents were chosen to answer the research instrument, therefore the results cannot be generalized to other secondary schools outside the state.

The researcher also encountered some financial and logistics problems but was able to resolve it as this study was successfully completed.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Counselling: The provision of professional assistance and guidance in resolving personal or psychological problems.

Attitude: Attitude is a psychological construct, a mental and emotional entity that inheres in or characterizes a person.