WELCOME TO KENTERPRO:
ROLE OF COUNSELLORS IN CURBING DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SELECTED SCHOOLS IN PANKSHIN METROPOLIS

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background to the Study

Guidance and Counselling has always been a discipline meant to assist students or individuals who have problems in any facet of life so that the goal of education which is the production of all round individual could be attained. Iwuama (2001)points out that if our society is not to be plagued by a brood of disgruntled, frustrated and unrealistic individuals, secondary school students should be exposed to available opportunities and social expectations in the country through career guidance and counselling. Deviant behaviour as pointed out can affect both the individual and society negatively. To remedy this situation, it needs therapeutic programme to help remedy such maladaptive behaviour exhibited in the individual. Behaviour therapy according to Essuman (1988) and Okobia (1989) will reduce undesirable behaviour through counselling techniques and procedures of experimental science and clinical practices. Nwogu (2007) wring on truancy which is also a deviant behaviour reported that there has been such application as scolding, denial of love, corporal punishment, suspension and expulsion meted by both the school authorities and parents to reduce or eliminate truancy which appeared not to have lasting effect.

Deviant behaviour among students today, especially in our secondary schools, has become a matter of concern for a good many formators, especially the guidance counsellors. In fact one may be tempted to say that deviant behaviour has become a cancer eating deep into the fabric of Nigeria’s Educational System. Professionally, deviant behaviour could be classified as those behaviours of students, Which interfere with their optimal functioning and actualization of their potentials (Nwosu, 1997). Okorodudu (2006) submits that deviant behaviour connotes a very clear departure from acceptable norms established within the family unit, school, community, peer groups, clubs, social organizations, employment organizations and in the larger societies. Okobia (1992) looking at students deviant behaviour saw it as those behaviours exhibited frequently and persistently in the classroom, which hinders the teachers effectiveness, students learning, and positive interpersonal relationship. Some of such behaviours are; calling teachers provocative nick names, walking out on the teacher, noise making, sleeping in the class and pinching. Others include aggression, vandalism, pilfering, lies, truancy, unpunctuality, irresponsibility, cheating, immorality, alcoholism, use “”of dru5.s, cultism and examination malpractice.

The above could be classified as disruptive and undesirable which is capable of rendering the young adolescent useless both to himself, his family and the society at large. No matter how one interprets these unholy behaviour among students in secondary schools, the fact remains that it is a state of disregard to laid down rules and regulations. Teachers, Parents and Guidance Counsellors have always tried to find out ways of solving the problem of deviant behaviours among students, yet the scourge still remains and refused to be jettisoned.

Education remains one of the tools for the transformation of an individual and society at large. It is one of the most powerful instruments for social change, which plays a crucial role in nation-building. According to Idowu and Esere (2007), education helps to develop people’s intellectual and functional capabilities. The school is a place where students acquire needed competencies for various vocations. The place of the counsellor in schools cannot be overemphasized. Counselling is a personal relationship between the counsellor and the client with the aim of assisting the client to understand themselves, effectively take decision and also solve their problems. Duroasro (2016) noted that counselling is oriented towards facilitating effective learning skills, acceptable habits and appropriate behaviour.

The National Policy on Education (2015) clearly stated that “in view of the apparent ignorance of many young people about career prospects and personality maladjustment among students, counsellors will be appointed in post primary institutions’’. Hence, it became compulsory for secondary school administrators to employ professional counsellors. An effective counsellor is a good listener, empathic, warm and sensitive to the needs of others. Counsellors are also trained in modifying maladaptive behaviour

Guidance and Counselling has always been a discipline meant to assist students or individuals who have problems in any facet of life so that the goal of education which is the production of all round individual could be attained. Iwuama (2001)points out that if our society is not to be plagued by a brood of disgruntled, frustrated and unrealistic individuals, secondary school students should be exposed to available opportunities and social expectations in the country through career guidance and counselling. Deviant behaviour as pointed out can affect both the individual and society negatively. To remedy this situation, it needs therapeutic programme to help remedy such maladaptive behaviour exhibited in the individual. Behaviour therapy according to Essuman (1988) and Okobia (1989) will reduce undesirable behaviour through counselling techniques and procedures of experimental science and clinical practices. Nwogu (2007) wring on truancy which is also a deviant behaviour reported that there has been such application as scolding, denial of love, corporal punishment, suspension and expulsion meted by both the school authorities and parents to reduce or eliminate truancy which appeared not to have lasting effect. Anagbogu (1991) pointing out the place of counsellors in correcting behaviour problems submits that teacher counsellor by utilizing individual counselling techniques can help the child improve his/her behaviour problems. She went on to say that counselling is a learning process designed to increase adaptive behaviour and to exterminate maladaptive behaviour.

Deviant behaviour of all kinds is a serious problem which interferes with student’s optimum development socially, psychologically, educationally and emotionally. It poses a very big problem both for the home and the school authority. Oftentimes, as Bolarin (1996) observed, the effects are remarkably felt on the adolescent academic achievement as this is manifested according to him in constant poor grade in class and repetition of classes. Nwosu (1997), on his part remarks that truancy can make the child not to benefit from formal school setting as well as creating problems for the teacher who spends most of his time identifying the deviant pupils and administering appropriate punishment.

It is in the light of the above discussion that the present study seeks to investigate the role of the counselor in curbing deviant behaviours among senior secondary school students in selected schools in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State with the aim of finding a lasting solution to these deviant behaviours.

• Statement of the Problem

Most secondary schools in Pankshin are plagued with this deviant behaviour ranging from truancy, drug use and abuse, to other delinquent acts. It is becoming rampant and if allowed to continue, could lead to the production of irresponsible children who are most likely to engage in crime and other social vices. It could even aggravate the problem of moral decadence which our society is almost known for. To this end, this researcher is out to find out the Role of counsellors in curbing deviant behaviour among senior secondary school students in selected schools in Pankshin Metropolis.

• Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to determine role of counsellors in curbing deviant behaviour among senior secondary school students in selected schools in Pankshin Metropolis. Other specific objectives of the study include:

1. To determine the causes of deviant behaviours among senior secondary school students in Pankshin Local Government Area.
2. To find out the roles of the counselor in curbing deviant behaviour among senior secondary school students.
3. To evaluate the challenges faced by the counselor in curbing deviant behaviours in senior secondary school students
   • Research Questions

The study is guided by the following research questions:

1. What are the causes of deviant behaviours among senior secondary school students in Pankshin Local Government Area?
2. What are the roles of the counselor in curbing deviant behaviour among senior secondary school students?
3. What are the challenges faced by the counselor in curbing deviant behaviours in senior secondary school students?
   • Research Hypothesis
4. H0: the counsellor has no roles in curbing deviant behaviours among senior secondary school students in Pankshin Local Government Area
   • Significance of the Study

The importance of this study cannot be underemphasized, especially now that the society is moving closer to the total destruction of our African moral value system. The study shall be of significance to the government, teachers, counselors, parents and students.

To the government, they will come to understand the need for counselling services in senior secondary schools in terms of curbing deviant behaviours among the students. therefore, they will take measures to strengthen counselling at all secondary school levels.

Teachers will benefit from this study because they will see where they are supposed to collaborate with the counselor in curbing deviant behaviour among students.

Counselors will gain a lot from this study because the challenges faced by counselors will be discussed and proper solutions proffered at th end will help the counselor to learn new strategies.

Parents and family will come to understand where they are lacking as primary agents of socialization to the child, therefore, they will take means of averting deviant behaviours.

Students who are at the hems of affairs in education, will benefit from this study because strategies adopted in curbing deviant behaviours by the counselors will go a long way in shaping their lives for them to be better people tomorrow.

Finally, the study when completed will be a source of reference materials for future researchers who will want to engage in studies of this nature.

• Scope/Delimitation of the Study

The study is limited to role of counsellors in curbing deviant behaviour among senior secondary school students. The study is limited to selected schools in Pankshin Metropolis. However, despite the fact that the study is limited to the selected schools in the local government, the findings of the study will be generalized to other schools in the local government, state and country at large.

• Operational Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined according to their usage in the study:

Counselor: This is a trained individual who is trained to counsel students in the society, even in schools.

Curbing: this is a process of eliminating  something that is not useful or something that is a problem to an individual or the society.

Deviant Behaviour: These are behaviours that are totally unacceptable to the society. These behaviours include: stealing, lying, murder, taking hard drugs, rape, examination malpractice, etc.

Role: A role is a set of connected behaviors, rights, obligations, beliefs, and norms as conceptualized by people in a social situation. It is an expected or free or continuously changing behavior and may have a given individual social status or social position.

Deviant: In sociology, deviance describes an action or behavior that violates social norms, including a formally enacted rule, as well as informal violations of social norms.

Behaviour: Behavior or behaviour is the actions and mannerisms made by individuals, organisms, systems or artificial entities in conjunction with themselves or their environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment.

Selected: to pick something out of many options.

Secondary: coming after, less important than, or resulting from someone or something else that is primary.

School: A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools.

Students: A student is primarily a person enrolled in a school or other educational institution and who is under learning with goals of acquiring knowledge, developing professions and achieving easy employment at a particular field.