The Ogun Government has expressed its support for the services of Guidance Counsellors in public schools, in order to enhance educational development of pupils.
Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, gave the government position in Abeokuta on Friday.
He spoke while receiving members of the State Chapter of the Counsellors Association of Nigeria and Association of Professional Counsellors of Nigeria.
Arigbabu noted that there was need to ensure that counselling was given its pride of place, especially in schools.
He said that the state government would engage counsellors for the transformation process, because peer pressure could make children neglect good training from parents and teachers.
“We are ready to support and encourage counselling units or centres in schools at the limit of our ability by providing adequate equipment that will make them to be comfortable and function well for the development of our learners.
“School counsellors play crucial roles in the educational development of children in any given society, as such, other stakeholders in the education sector must give them necessary support,” he said.
The commissioner said counsellors were saddled with the responsibilities of offering orientation services to learners, guiding them toward the right path and teaching them moral values.
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye, commended members of the associations for their contributions to educational development thus far.
Ogunleye pointed out that the significance of guidance and counselling in schools could not be over-emphasised.
He said it had been helping to curtail social vices among students.
Prof. Eunice Hassan , the Chairperson, Counsellors Association of Nigeria in the state, said that the group was working on a unified curriculum which would result to maximum growth.
Hassan said this was in order to better the lot of children in schools.
The association chairperson said the counsellors were ready to partner and work in line with the ministry’s directives.(NAN)
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