Guidance and Counselling Services and Students’ Career Decision-Making in Secondary Schools in Ondo State

This study examines the availability and effectiveness of guidance and counselling services in supporting students' career decision-making in public secondary schools in Ondo State, South West Nigeria. Career counselling at the secondary school level is essential for equipping students with the self-awareness, occupational knowledge, and decision-making skills needed to navigate post-secondary transitions. Yet in many Nigerian public schools, counselling services are under-resourced, understaffed, and poorly integrated into the school programme. The study employs a descriptive survey design and draws a sample of 350 final-year students and 40 school counsellors from 30 public secondary schools across three senatorial zones in Ondo State. Instruments include a structured questionnaire and an interview guide, and data are analysed with mean, standard deviation, and t-tests. The study is anchored on Super's Career Development Theory. Results show that only a minority of sampled schools have dedicated counselling units staffed by qualified counsellors, and that students in schools with functional counselling services report greater career clarity and confidence in decision-making. The study recommends full implementation of the one-counsellor-per-school policy and the provision of career resource libraries in all public secondary schools in Ondo State. Keywords: guidance and counselling, career decision-making, secondary education, counselling services, Ondo State.