Assignment 1 (20marks)
Write a short paper (3-5 pages) discussing the meaning of guidance and counselling, comparing
traditional African practices with modern approaches.
Reflect on their relevance in today's educational setting.
Meaning of Guidance and Counselling
Guidance refers to the process of providing advice, direction, and support to individuals so that
they can make informed decisions in areas such as education, career, and personal life.
Guidance is generally preventive and developmental, helping people to avoid mistakes and
maximize opportunities.
Counselling is a deeper, more personal and therapeutic process where an individual (the
counsellor) assists another (the client) in exploring emotions, thoughts, and behaviours in order
to cope with challenges, resolve problems, and achieve personal growth. Counselling is usually
confidential, client-centered, and can be remedial in nature.
For example: If a secondary school student is struggling to select between sciences and arts, a
teacher provides guidance by explaining career opportunities linked to each subject. If the same
student feels depressed due to family conflicts, a professional counsellor provides counselling
through supportive listening and therapeutic interventions.
Traditional African Practices of Guidance and Counselling
In pre-colonial African societies, guidance and counselling were embedded in daily life and
social structures. They were informal but effective because they were rooted in culture,
spirituality, and communal living.
1. Elders as counsellors: Elders were respected as repositories of wisdom. They offered advice
on marriage, conflict resolution, morality, and social responsibilities.
2. Rites of passage: Initiation ceremonies guided young people into adulthood by teaching
sexual education, cultural values, and social roles.
3. Storytelling and proverbs: Folktales and wise sayings provided moral lessons and problem-
solving strategies.
4. Palaver and mediation: Family and community meetings were used to resolve disputes and
restore peace.
5. Spiritual and religious guidance: Diviners, herbalists, and religious leaders counselled
individuals facing misfortune or personal crises.
For example: Among the Kikuyu of Kenya, initiation rites taught boys courage, respect, and
community responsibility. Similarly, the Yoruba in Nigeria used proverbs to counsel children
about honesty, hard work, and respect.
Modern Approaches to Guidance and Counselling
Modern counselling is influenced by Western psychology, professional training, and ethics. It is
more structured and formalized, especially in schools.
1. Professional training: Counsellors are trained in psychology, counselling theories, and ethics.
2. Confidentiality: Sessions are private and protect the client’s information.
3. Therapeutic models: Approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT),
psychoanalysis, and person-centered therapy are applied.
4. Career guidance: Students receive structured career advice through assessments, career
fairs, and one-on-one sessions.
5. Institutional support: Schools, universities, and workplaces establish guidance and
counselling departments to support learners and workers.
For example: In Kenyan schools, professional counsellors help learners cope with exam stress,
career choices, drug abuse, and issues like teenage pregnancy.
Similarities between Traditional and Modern Approaches
1. Both aim to help individuals solve problems and make good decisions.
2. Both encourage discipline and responsible behaviour.
3. Both use dialogue as a key tool in problem-solving.
4. Both are preventive and corrective in nature.
5. Both emphasize moral values and acceptable behaviour.
6. Both can be applied to individuals and groups.
7. Both aim at social harmony and wellbeing.
8. Both rely on trust between the counsellor and the guided.
9. Both recognize the importance of mentorship.
10. Both seek to prepare individuals for life’s responsibilities.
Differences between Traditional and Modern Approaches
1. Orientation: Traditional is communal; modern is individual-centered.
2. Authority: Traditional relies on elders and experience; modern relies on trained
professionals.
3. Confidentiality: Traditional is open and public; modern is private and confidential.
4. Methods: Traditional uses proverbs, rituals, and storytelling; modern uses therapy and
psychological models.
5. Focus: Traditional emphasizes community values; modern emphasizes personal growth.
6. Spirituality: Traditional integrates spiritual and religious aspects; modern separates
counselling from religion.
7. Decision-making: Traditional is directive (elders give instructions); modern is non-directive
(client makes decisions).
8. Setting: Traditional takes place in homesteads or communal spaces; modern takes place in
offices, schools, and clinics.
9. Evidence base: Traditional depends on cultural validation; modern depends on scientific
research.
10. Scope: Traditional focuses on social roles (marriage, adulthood); modern addresses broader
issues including mental health, career, and global challenges.
Relevance in Today’s Educational Setting
1. Cultural identity: Traditional practices help learners appreciate their heritage while modern
approaches prepare them for global citizenship.
2. Moral education: Proverbs and stories can be used in schools to reinforce discipline and
ethical values.
3. Mentorship: The role of elders can inspire mentorship programs in schools.
4. Life skills: Initiation lessons can inform structured life-skills education.
5. Conflict resolution: Traditional mediation can inspire peer-mediation and restorative justice
in schools.
6. Mental health support: Modern counselling addresses stress, depression, and substance
abuse among learners.
7. Holistic growth: Combining both ensures academic, emotional, social, and cultural
development.
8. Community involvement: Schools can partner with parents and elders in guidance
programmes.
9. Adaptability: Blending both approaches helps learners cope with both traditional and
modern challenges, such as technology use, unemployment, and cultural erosion.
