AN ASSESSMENT OF THE GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING NEEDS OF STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, TAMALE

Abstract

This study assessed the guidance and counselling needs of university students within the UDS, with the view to striving for better ways of ensuring more effective counselling to students, which is one of the basic responsibilities of the counsellor. The study involved 471 students drawn from two faculties in the UDS, Tamale. These are the SMHS and FOA, Nyankpala. Simple random sampling was used to select the faculties and respondents for the study. In all, 471 respondents including 169 females and 302 males took part in the study. The study involved descriptive sample survey design. Descriptive research gives a picture of a situation as a prerequisite to making inferences and generalisations. The descriptive sample survey is considered most appropriate because the study was concerned with the current status of a phenomenon. The study adopted Ikeme's Adolescent Inventory (API) instruments. The instrument was considered appropriate since the individual students were considered as young adults. The instruments offered every individual the opportunity to express him or her self. Copies of the inventory items were distributed to respondents on June 6th, 2009, personally. The content and rationale for the study was explained to them. The instruments were retrieved two weeks later. The available data indicated that nothing has been done on the need for guidance and counselling centre in UDS. The absence of guidance and counselling in UDS gave the researcher to undertake the study. It is therefore recommended that guidance and counselling units to be established in the UDS and a course in the academic programme.