Emotional Support Practices of School Counsellors and Retention Rates in Higher Institutions in Kano State

This study examines the emotional support practices of school counsellors and their relationship to student retention rates at polytechnics and colleges of education in Kano State, North West Nigeria. Student dropout from higher education represents a significant loss of human capital investment, and emotional distress has been identified as a primary non-academic driver of withdrawal. The study employs a descriptive survey design, involving 200 students who had sought counselling and 60 counsellors from three tertiary institutions in Kano Metropolis. The Counsellor Support Practices Rating Scale and a student retention intention questionnaire were used as instruments. Data were analysed using logistic regression and Spearman rank correlation. Findings indicate that students who reported receiving empathic, consistent, and goal-directed emotional support from counsellors were significantly more likely to express retention intentions compared to those who had minimal or unsatisfactory counselling experiences. Counsellors who employed person-centred approaches and maintained regular follow-up contact reported higher student satisfaction scores. Institutional barriers including understaffed counselling units, limited private counselling spaces, and lack of supervisory oversight reduced counsellors' effectiveness. These results highlight the practical value of professional emotional support infrastructure in tertiary settings. The Kano State Ministry of Higher Education is advised to increase counsellor-to-student ratios, provide clinical supervision structures, and allocate dedicated budgets for counsellor professional development in all state higher institutions. Keywords: emotional support, school counsellors, student retention, higher education, Kano State.