Management of Academic Underachievement Through Counselling Intervention in Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State

Academic underachievement in Nigerian polytechnic institutions represents a significant institutional concern linked to poor national productivity outcomes and student attrition. This study evaluated the management of academic underachievement through structured counselling intervention at Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State, North East Nigeria. A quasi-experimental design was employed, with 56 underachieving students identified through CGPA analysis assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a twelve-week programme comprising individual counselling, group sessions, and academic skills coaching, while the control group received routine academic advising. Pre-intervention and post-intervention academic performance data and the Academic Achievement Motivation Scale were used as measurement tools. Analysis of covariance was applied. Findings revealed a significant improvement in academic performance and achievement motivation among intervention participants. Goal-setting sessions and self-regulated learning coaching were identified as the most impactful intervention components. The study concluded that counselling interventions tailored to the polytechnic academic environment can effectively reverse underachievement trajectories. Recommendations included the institutionalisation of structured academic counselling programmes within Federal Polytechnic Mubi's student services unit and the development of early academic warning systems to identify at-risk students in their first semester of study. Keywords: academic underachievement, counselling intervention, polytechnic, Adamawa State, achievement motivation.