Empowering Students through Counseling: Purposes, Challenges, and Impact in Chiniot District Schools

Abstract

This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of counselling services in Chiniot District schools, in Punjab, Pakistan. The study investigates the purposes, challenges, and impact of counselling services on student well-being. A reliable sample size of 118 10th-grade students from four selected schools was used for data collection. The survey results indicate that "Decision making" (Mean = 4.70) is the primary purpose of counselling services, followed by "Future career" (Mean = 3.25) and "Improving student’s achievements" (Mean = 3.18). Notably, "Shortage of qualified personnel" (Mean = 4.49) and "Inadequate facilities" (Mean = 4.45) were the most significant challenges faced by counselling services. On the positive side, "Improvement regarding adaptation to the school's environment" (Mean = 4.56) and "Improve your grades" (Mean = 4.29) emerged as the most notable effects of counselling services. The findings underscore the vital role of counselling services in enhancing student well-being and academic success. Recommendations are provided to address challenges and strengthen counselling support in Chiniot District schools. This research contributes valuable insights to the field and advocates continuous investment in student support and development.