Motivational Interviewing Techniques in Managing Academic Underperformance Among College Students in Oyo State

This study examines the application of motivational interviewing techniques by college counsellors in addressing academic underperformance among students at colleges of education in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Motivational interviewing is a client-centred, directive counselling approach designed to enhance intrinsic motivation for behaviour change, and its application to academic contexts offers a promising avenue for reversing student underperformance. The study employs a quasi-experimental design, involving 100 academically underperforming students from two colleges of education who were randomly assigned to motivational interviewing counselling sessions or standard academic advising. The Academic Motivation Scale and grade point averages were used as outcome measures. Data were analysed using analysis of covariance and repeated measures tests. Findings indicate that students who received motivational interviewing sessions showed significantly greater improvements in intrinsic academic motivation and end-of-semester GPA compared to those receiving standard advising. The collaborative and non-confrontational style of motivational interviewing was particularly effective in engaging students who had previously resisted counsellor contact. Students in the intervention group also reported reduced academic anxiety and improved self-regulated learning behaviours. These results affirm motivational interviewing as a practically viable and culturally adaptable approach for Nigerian college counsellors. The Oyo State College of Education system is advised to train all school counsellors in motivational interviewing and to establish structured referral pathways for academically at-risk students. Keywords: motivational interviewing, academic underperformance, college students, Oyo State, counselling intervention.