Evaluating the implementation of guidance and counselling in a Zimbabwean secondary school

Abstract

The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the Implementation of Guidance and Counselling in a Zimbabwean Secondary School that was seen to be running an exemplary programme. The study was a search for best practice meant to provide benchmarks that could benefit other institutions in similar set-ups to establish effective Guidance and Counselling (G&C) programmes. The rational for the study emanated from reservations expressed by some teachers and heads about the feasibility of G&C programmes in their schools citing numerous practical hurdles. Policy circular number 23 of 2005 expected all Zimbabwe secondary schools to institutionalise G&C programmes. Some questions that guided the study follow below. <ul> <li>How did the school articulate the policy into G&C programme?</li> <li>How can insight into the implementation of G&C inform programme development?</li></ul> The research study was conducted at Trockley Secondary School in Harare where five participants were interviewed individually. Research findings showed that Trockley was running a functional G&C programme refuting the scepticism cited above. However, it is important to set standards that schools can aspire to elevate their programmes to; for now programmes can be qualified as functional or non-functional, but not exceptional, a yard-stick that could help to improve G&C programmes significantly in the whole country.