Attitude of Students Towards Counselling Services
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Understanding the biological, psychological, sociological and physiological nature of human development suggest the need to focus on problems that the stages often bring and the attempt to find solutions to them through the methods of guidance and counselling. Humankind, from the time of Adam has had the need for advice and counsel in order to help them understand themselves and their relationships to their fellow human beings and to recognize and develop their own potential. In responding to these needs, the chiefs and elders of the ancient tribal societies were perhaps the first forerunners of the present day counsellors. Later in the early civilizations, the philosophers, priests and other representatives of the gods were seen in roles offering advice and counselling. From the middle ages onwards teachers were also expected to provide counselling for their students. To supplement these efforts, books began to appear with increasing frequency from the 18th century that focused on providing advice and counsel to the youth in meeting many of the problems of the times especially those concerning occupational choice. Meanwhile, many leading statesmen, philosophers, scientists and educators were laying a philosophical groundwork that would eventually support and nurture an embryonic movement to establish psychology as a science and an academic discipline with an impact on school and community settings. According to Makinde, (1983), the indigenous African counsellor does not exist in the dictionary of western practice even though counselling started in Africa many
1
years ago. If recognized at all, he was referred to as a local herbalist, a divinatory, or at best an advisor whose techniques and procedures are unorthodox and unscientific. To this end, he remains an enigma or puzzle to western society whereas the majority of Africans who live both in village community settings (not rural) and in urban areas regard
INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Understanding the biological, psychological, sociological and physiological nature of human development suggest the need to focus on problems that the stages often bring and the attempt to find solutions to them through the methods of guidance and counselling. Humankind, from the time of Adam has had the need for advice and counsel in order to help them understand themselves and their relationships to their fellow human beings and to recognize and develop their own potential. In responding to these needs, the chiefs and elders of the ancient tribal societies were perhaps the first forerunners of the present day counsellors. Later in the early civilizations, the philosophers, priests and other representatives of the gods were seen in roles offering advice and counselling. From the middle ages onwards teachers were also expected to provide counselling for their students. To supplement these efforts, books began to appear with increasing frequency from the 18th century that focused on providing advice and counsel to the youth in meeting many of the problems of the times especially those concerning occupational choice. Meanwhile, many leading statesmen, philosophers, scientists and educators were laying a philosophical groundwork that would eventually support and nurture an embryonic movement to establish psychology as a science and an academic discipline with an impact on school and community settings. According to Makinde, (1983), the indigenous African counsellor does not exist in the dictionary of western practice even though counselling started in Africa many
1
years ago. If recognized at all, he was referred to as a local herbalist, a divinatory, or at best an advisor whose techniques and procedures are unorthodox and unscientific. To this end, he remains an enigma or puzzle to western society whereas the majority of Africans who live both in village community settings (not rural) and in urban areas regard