Guidance Services and Academic Adjustment of Secondary School Students in Uyo and Itu Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between guidance services and academic adjustment of secondary school students in Uyo and Itu Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State. Specifically, the study explored the extent to which information service, counselling service, and orientation service relate to students’ academic adjustment. A correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 6,303 SS Two students in thirteen public secondary schools in Uyo and Itu local government areas with functional counselling units. A sample of 781 SS Two was selected using the proportionate stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Guidance Services and Academic Adjustment Questionnaire (GSAAQ). The instrument was validated by three experts. The reliability of the instrument was established using the Cronbach Alpha method, and an overall reliability coefficient of 0.82 was obtained. Data collected were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistic to answer the research questions and also to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that information service, counselling service, and orientation service all positively and significantly relate to the academic adjustment of secondary school students. Based on the findings, it was concluded that guidance services play a crucial role in promoting students’ academic adjustment. It was recommended, among others, that secondary school administrators in Uyo Local Government Area should ensure that functional guidance and counselling units are established and adequately staffed with qualified counsellors to provide effective information, counselling, and orientation services.