Effect of Counsellor–Students Ratio and Counsellor Competence on Self-Concept and Career Decision-Making Among Senior Secondary School Students in South-West Nigeria

Aringbangba; Funke Adebayo

doi:10.56201/ijee.v12.no.2.2026.pg900.914

📄 Download Paper

Effect of Counsellor–Students Ratio and Counsellor Competence on Self-Concept and Career Decision-Making Among Senior Secondary School Students in South-West Nigeria

Aringbangba, Funke Adebayo

Abstract

The increasing complexity of educational and occupational choices requires school counselling services that are both accessible and professionally competent. However, many public secondary schools in Nigeria continue to experience shortages of qualified counsellors and wide variations in counsellor competence, potentially limiting the effectiveness of counselling services. The study examined the effect of counsellor–student ratio and counsellor competence on self-concept and career decision-making among senior secondary school students in South-West Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey and ex post facto research designs. The target population comprised Senior Secondary School III students enrolled in public secondary schools across the six states of South-West Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was proposed to select 1,800 participants from selected schools. Three validated instruments were used for data collection: Counsellor Competence Scale , Student Self-Concept Scale , and Career Decision-Making Scale . Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and Multiple Regression Analysis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that counsellor competence significantly predicted students' self-concept and career decision-making. Counsellor–student ratio also had a significant influence on both dependent variables. The joint contribution of counsellor competence and counsellor–student ratio significantly explained variations in students' self-concept and career decision-making. The study concluded that adequate counselling personnel and professionally competent counsellors are indispensable for enhancing students' psychological well-being and informed career choices. It was recommended that government should recruit more qualified school counsellors to reduce counsellor workload while continuous professional development programmes should be organized to improve counsellor competence.

Keywords

counsellor competencecounsellor–student ratioself-conceptcareer decision- makingsecondary school studentsschool counselling.

References

Adama, B. & Ukoima, R. N. (2023). Influence of guidance and counseling services on students career choice in public senior secondary schools in Rivers State. International Journal of Innovative Psychology & Social Development, 11(3),105-119. Adeniyi, T. O., & Vipene, J. (2022). Implications of guidance and counseling services on the choice of career among senior secondary school students in Rivers State. International Journal of Contemporary Academic Research, 3(1), 1-20. Agi, C. W. (2014). Counseling students on choice of careers in professional areas in Rivers State University of science and technology, Port Harcourt: Implication for counselling. Journal of Education and Practice, 5(13), 164-168. Dyaji, J. E., Marvelous, A. E. & Aigbedion, I. A. (2025). The impact of guidance and counseling services on career choice of public secondary school students in FCT, Abuja. International Journal of Strategic Research in Education, Technology and Humanities, 13(2), 35 – 53. Ekpo, C. G. & Is’haq, A. B. (2014). Education and transformation agenda in Nigeria: An appraisal. Journal of Education and Practice, 5(8), 83 - 90. Elisha, L. A., Kinzi, J. M. & Kimaiyo, L. C. (2025). The influence of individual career counselling strategy on career choices among students in secondary schools in Homa Bay County, Kenya. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(6), 5462 – 5470. Eremie, M. & Ikpah, G. U. (2017). Self-concept and occupational aspiration among secondary school students in Rivers state. International Journal of Innovative Psychology & Social Development, 5(2), 1 – 4. Ifejiofor, A. P. (2023). Effect of counseling services on career choice of secondary school students in Anambra state, Nigeria. International Journal of Education, Training and Learning, 7(1), 1 – 6. Is’haq, A. B., Musa, T. A. & Abdulhafiz, Z. (2019). Education and Insecurity in Nigeria. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332548880 Iyoke, P. N. (2019). Impact of guidance services on the career choice of secondary school students in public secondary schools in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. IAA Journal of Education, 5(1), 24-39. Jimoh, A. (2025). The influence of career counseling on students career decision making in senior secondary school, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo state. B.Ed Project of University of Benin, Benin City. Retrieved from https://repository.uniben.edu/sites/default /files/2026-04/Copy-Aisha%20Project.pdf Kurebwa, M., Matyatini, N., & Wadesango, N. (2016). Pastoral guidance and counselling. Studies of Tribes and Tribals, 12(1), 43-52. Magere, G. M., Maree, J. G., & Rajab, P. (2026). The effect of career construction counselling on high school students’ career decision-making difficulties and career adaptability. South African Journal of Psychology, 56(2), 200 - 217. Ogidi, L. (2017). The evaluation of counselling and guidance services based on teacher views and their prediction based on some variables. International Journal of Instruction, 2(1), 59 – 76. Ogonda, P. M. (2026). Role of guidance and counselling in shaping career choice among senior secondary school students in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State. IJEE IJEE www.ijee.io Okirigwe, N. U. (2020). Influence of counselling services on students' career choice in secondary schools: Implication for career counselling. International Journal of Innovative Psychology & Social Development, 8(3), 21-30. Okojide, A., Adekeye, A. & Bakare, E. (2018). Factors influencing career choice among undergraduates in Covenant University, Nigeria. Proceedings of ICERI2018 Conference, 12th-14th November, Seville, Spain. Olayinka, M. S. (2016). The place of counselling in Nigeria education policy. Nigerian Journal of Psychology, 1(1), 89-94. Onuorah, A. E. & Ogbodo O. P. (2019). School counsellor role in career decision making of secondary school students in Enugu Education Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. IDOSR Journal of Arts and Humanities, 4(1), 49-56. Vanin, G. (2015). The role of a career counsellor in enhancing the career development process of secondary school students. PhD Thesis of Australian Catholic University. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.4226/66 /5a9cbc13b0b93 Wokili, S. H. (2018). Factors affecting career choice among secondary school students in selected post-primary school in Sokoto. B.Ed Project Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. Yakubu, A. P. (2026). Influence of guidance services on career decision making among senior secondary school students in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. NIU Journal of Educational Research, 12(1), 137 – 145.

Effect of Counsellor–Students Ratio and Counsellor Competence on Self-Concept and Career Decision-Making Among Senior Secondary School Students in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND EVALUATION