Freshmen: Guidance and counselling received in high school and that needed in university.

Abstract

This study sought to determine the guidance and counselling services which Social Science students in one Government-owned university in Zimbabwe had received in high school and the guidance and counselling services that they desired upon entry into university. Variations in services received in high school and those desired at university were by school type of the respondents. More specifically, the study determined type of previous high school and provision of guidance and counselling programmes and attempted to assess if there were variations in guidance needs at university by previous school type. A survey research design was used. A self-administered questionnaire with mostly closed questions was given to first year students at the end of their second month at university. A sample size of 90 (M = 41; F = 49) volunteered, through informed consent, to participate in the study. Data were analysed using a t-test for independent samples, chi-square and bar graphs. Results showed existence of guidance and counselling in all former school types with mission, government and private schools having in-class lessons and services well known to their students. There is no significant difference between male and female students (t = -1.18; df =88; α = 0.05) but females indicated more favourable responses than males. Former school type and existence of programme (chi-square = 6.1; df = 6; α = 0.05) and type of school and curriculum areas (chi-square = 3.31; df = 6; α = 0.05) were independent. At university most students from former government, mission and private schools preferred guidance on learning in large classes, adjustment difficulties, career and large workloads while those from rural schools mostly preferred personal/social counselling.