ILM – ECED 125
MODULE 5
THE NATURE, MEANING, IMPORTANCE AND SCOPE OF COUNSELING IN SCHOOLS
MODULE 5 - The nature, meaning, importance and scope of counseling in schools
Overview:
This module discusses the meaning, importance and scope of counseling in the
educational setting.
Learning Outcomes: At the end of the module, the pre-service teacher can:
1. Explain the meaning of counseling;
2. Justify the need for counseling in all levels of education
3. Discuss the principles of counseling
4. Describe the organization of counseling service in schools
5. Present notable problems of counseling in schools
CONTENT:
1. Meaning of Counseling
2. Need or Importance of Counseling
3. Principles of Counseling
4. Functions of Counseling in General
5. Organization of Counseling Service in Schools
TIME ALLOTMENT – 3 hours Week
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
I. UNCOVER:
Share a situation when you became a counselor or when you were counseled. Describe your
feelings in such situations.
II. BRAINSTORM.
Read and Study the following topics:
School Counselling : Meaning, Principles and Other Details
Meaning:
Among the various services of guidance programme organised by the educational
institutions or schools ‘counselling service’ has a vital role to play. It is the most
prominent aspect of guidance which conveys the meaning of guidance in different
situations for different services. Most of the time, it is treated as synonym of guidance.
That’s why it is regarded as the very core of the guidance programme.
It is as old as society itself. Usually counselling is given at many levels. It means in
homes, parents counsel their children, in the clinic or hospital the doctor counsels the
patient. In the court, the lawyer counsels the client. Like this in educational institutions
or schools, teachers counsel their pupils as counsellors. After having this discussion on
counselling it is necessary for us to know what counselling is.
The term counselling in guidance literature conveys a meaning much more than its
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literary meaning and its scope is much broader than mere giving advice. The major
concern of counselling service is to help the individual to achieve self-direction, self-
knowledge and self-realization. Before citing the definitions given by different specialists
on this area it is essential on our part to know the meaning of counselling service in
general perspective, i.e.
That is:
“Counselling is a face-to-face meeting for interpersonal relationship of the counsellor
and the counsellee in which the counsellor who happens to be person with special
training and competency offers suggestions, opinion and advice to the counsellee to
assist him (the counsellee) to understand himself and to develop his potentialities and
resources so that he may function as an independent and self-reliant person, capable of
making his own decisions and solving his own problems.
In other words, it can be stated as a consultancy service and through mutual exchange
the counsellor can motivate the counsellor in bringing about changes in attitudes and in
development of skills and competency and make right choices.
Definitions of Counseling:
“Consultation, mutual interchange of opinion, deliberating together.” —The Websters
“Counselling implies a relationship between two individuals in which one gives a certain
kind of assistance to the other. —Myer
“Counselling is a series of direct contacts with the individual which aims to offer him
assistance in changing his attitudes and behaviour.” —Carl Rogers
“The term counselling covers all types of two personal situations in which one person,
the client is helped to adjust more effectively to himself and his environment.”—
Robinson
“Counselling is the application of the personal resources of the school or other
institution to the solution of the problems of the individual.” —Traxler
On the basis of general meaning and definitions on counselling, the nature or features
of it are given below—
Basic Principles of Counselling:
The counselling service in the guidance programme of schools or educational
institution is based on the following principles:
1. Counselling is strongly dedicated to self-direction and self-realization of the pupil or
client.
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2. It is the development of the insights and understandings of the relations of self and
environment.
3. It is a structured learning situation.
4. Counselling methods vary with the needs of the client or pupil.
5. It is primarily a preventive and remedial process.
6. It is voluntary for the pupils.
Need and Importance of Counselling Service:
It is sure to highlight that pupils experience a number of problems in the school and at
home, relating to his adjustment, educational choice and occupational choice etc. But
most of their problems are of personal-social in nature.
These personal-social problems are as follows:
1. Change of subject.
2. Developing proper study habits.
3. Making and keeping friends.
4. Feelings of inferiority.
5. Free studentship and concession.
6. Getting along with one’s peers
7. Preparing for the examination.
8. Problems relating to use of leisure time.
9. In adequate participation or over involvement in school activities.
10. Dropping out of the school.
11. Planning for the future.
12. Continuous absence from school.
13. Problems relating to love affairs.
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14. Problems relating under achievement.
15. Manners and Morals.
Pupils need counselling services for the purpose to know how they should deal with or
tackle the problems they are facing in their daily life situations. Sometimes a pupil is
unaware that he has a problem. Unless he is made aware of his problems he can’t be
helped in his development. For this he requires counselling to develop insight into his
problems.
Besides, it has been observed that a pupil needs a wise and sympathetic person to
whom he can talk about his personal problems, a person who can give a patient hearing
to his problems and assist him to solve his problems. The counselling session provides
this opportunity to the pupils to talk about his problems and develop insight into the
possible solutions to his problems.
Functions of Counselling in General:
The counselling service performs the following functions:
1. It establishes a trusting, accepting, safe and sharing relationship with the pupils.
2. It allows and encourages the pupils to express his worries, problems
3. It helps the pupils to develop insight into his real problems and to assist him in self-
understanding and self-development. It is in this sense that counselling is
developmental in nature.
It assists the pupil to understand the factors which have caused his problems, worries
and difficulties and thereby to be alert about those factors so as to be able to prevent
the recurrence of his problems and difficulties. In this sense, counselling is preventive in
nature.
It assists the pupil to understand themselves and his environment and to find out
solutions to his problems with satisfaction to himself and benefit to the environment.
Finding solution to his problems leads to emotional release and reassurance. Therefore
counselling is remedial in nature.
Organization of Counselling Service in School:
The counselling service is to be organized as per the following criteria for making
counselling service a grand success in the school:
1. A qualified counsellor should be appointed.
2. The counsellor should be given a separate room so that it will provide adequate
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privacy to him.
3. The room should have sufficient equipment’s.
4. The room should have adequate furniture.
5. The counsellor should take advantage of every opportunity or facility offered by the
school like bulletin board, the assembly period etc., to publicize the counselling service
and to explain its nature and purpose.
6. The room should be made as attractive as possible.
7. The counsellor should make himself easily available to the pupils as and when
necessary.
8. The counsellor should be very receptive and humane in nature.
9. The principal or headmaster should take a keen interest in the counselling service of
the school.
10. The counsellor should arrange talks illustrated by films and film strips for pupils,
teachers, parents and other community groups.
III, INSTLL
Questions for discussion:
1. Explain the meaning of counseling;
2. Justify the need for counseling in all levels of education
3. Discuss the principles of counseling
4. Describe the organization of counseling service in schools
IV.APPLY
1. Are teachers qualified to provide counseling service in schools? Why? Why not?
V. NUTSHELL
Make a concept map summarizing the module.
REFERENCE:
https://www.slideshare.net/revathyms/counselling-in-educational-settings
