Counselling indispensable in nation building -Yahaya

A senior lecturer in the Department of Counselor Education, University of Ilorin, Professor Lasiele Alabi Yahaya, has described as beneficial to students and the society at large, the compulsory inclusion of guidance and counseling in educational institutions in Nigeria.

Yahaya maintained that provision of counseling in schools would afford the students various opportunities to achieve their goals in life.

In his lecture entitled ‘School counseling: key to unlocking Golden Opportunities in Life’ delivered at the 166th inaugural lecture of the university, the professor of guidance and counseling wondered why counseling is not included in schools’ curricular, challenging the government to place it, as a subject, high on schools’ curricular.

According to him, with inclusion of counseling in schools, most of the societal ills and national challenges will be reduced considerably, since the development of any nation depends on its young ones.

“Counseling which is a helping relationship deserves more attention from government than it presently has in order to make the positive impact. All educational stakeholders should therefore join hands in placing counseling in its rightful position.

“I strongly believe that if counseling is given the deserved attention, most of the cases if deviant behaviour which are rampant in Nigerian institutions of learning would be brought under control and students would focus more on their studies such that ultimately, they would benefit maximally from numerous opportunities that life presents,” he stated.

Insisting that provision of guidance and counseling serves should be made compulsory in educational institutions across Nigeria, the don advocated “an educational act of parliament” in order to ensure full attention, efficiency and schools compliance with the order.

“Counseling should also be given adequate consideration in the National Policy on Education. For instance, instead of a few paragraphs, a chapter should be devoted to school counseling.

“Government should ensure that school counselors practice on a full-time basis. Counseling is a job that demands total commitment and dedication; it cannot be done as a part time venture. It requires full time and all day attention. Ideally, a counselor is required to handle not more than 250 students in order to be effective and efficient,” he added.

Offering further tips on how to achieve inclusion of counseling education in schools, Yahaya said the ministries pf education and higher education bodies should make guidance and counseling part of their requirements for accreditation in order to promote quality assurance.

The don also advised the Federal Government on the provision of well-equipped counseling laboratories in the departments where it is offered in Nigerian universities.

He particularly charged the University of Ilorin to upgrade its counseling and Human Development Centre to a more recognized standard.