Guidance and Counselling Services and Students’ Career Choice in Senior Secondary Schools in Anambra State

This study investigates the influence of guidance and counselling services on career choice among senior secondary school students in Anambra State, South East Nigeria. The transition from secondary education to career or higher education pathways is a critical life decision that many Nigerian students navigate without adequate professional support. In Anambra State, despite a policy mandate for school counsellors, many secondary schools lack qualified personnel, and where present, counsellors are often burdened with administrative duties that limit their advisory role. A descriptive survey design was used, with questionnaires administered to 350 Senior Secondary School Three students and 40 school counsellors across 20 schools in Awka, Onitsha, and Nnewi senatorial zones. Guidance and counselling access was measured by frequency of student interactions with counsellors, availability of career information resources, and participation in vocational orientation programmes. Career choice quality was assessed using a career decision-making self-efficacy scale adapted for the Nigerian context. Regression analysis and chi-square tests were applied. Results indicate that regular access to counselling services is significantly associated with higher career decision-making confidence and better alignment of career choices with students' aptitudes and interests. Schools with full-time qualified counsellors showed significantly better career guidance outcomes. The study concludes that functional guidance and counselling programmes are essential for supporting informed career decisions. It recommends that Anambra State post at least one qualified counsellor to every secondary school and ring-fence counselling duties to prevent administrative encroachment.

Keywords: guidance and counselling, career choice, senior secondary school, Anambra State, career decision-making.