Guidance and Counselling Need in Tanzania: Needs Assessment for Primary School Pupils of Iringa Municipality

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify the guidance and Counselling needs for primary school pupils. This study applied a Cross-sectional study design. Data were collected through questionnaires, structured interviews, and focus group discussion. The study involved 205 respondents; 155 primary school pupils, 26 primary school teachers, four guidance and counselling teachers, 10 educational administrators and 10 parents. The findings showed that pupils experienced some problems/needs and communicated them to their significant people and received help. The findings also revealed that pupils had some problems/needs which did not receive any help from the significant people although they were communicated to them. Likewise, the findings revealed that pupils had problems/needs which they found difficult to communicate to their significant people. Also, it was clear that the significant people around the primary school children were aware of the guidance and counselling needs of the pupils. The study concludes that social problems were the most outstanding problems/needs which primary school pupils experienced and shared easily with their significant others; psychological and developmental problems/needs are the most outstanding problems/needs which did not receive appropriate help from the significant people although they were communicated to them. The study recommends that guidance and counselling programmes in the schools be strengthened by employing trained professional counsellors to meet pupils’ problems and needs.