By Rachel Akper

Education stakeholders have called for the urgent deployment of functional guidance counsellors in schools across Nigeria, citing growing concerns over students’ academic, emotional, and social well-being.

The call highlighted the alarm raised by educationists over the absence of structured counselling systems in many primary and secondary schools.

According to the report, stakeholders warned that the lack of professional counsellors has left many students vulnerable to poor career decisions, peer pressure, and mental health challenges.

They stressed that guidance counselling should be treated as a core component of the education system rather than an auxiliary service.

Education experts noted that in several public schools, counselling roles are either non-existent or assigned to untrained personnel, thereby limiting their effectiveness.

They argued that trained counsellors play a critical role in helping students navigate academic challenges, develop life skills, and make informed career choices.

Officials of the Federal Ministry of Education were also quoted as acknowledging that while policies supporting guidance and counselling exist, implementation remains weak due to inadequate funding and poor monitoring mechanisms.

Stakeholders further emphasized that effective counselling services could help curb issues such as bullying, substance abuse, examination malpractice, and rising emotional distress among students.

They added that early intervention through professional counselling would significantly improve students’ academic performance and reduce dropout rates.

They therefore urged federal and state governments, as well as private school owners, to prioritise the recruitment of qualified guidance counsellors and provide dedicated counselling units in schools. Continuous training and certification, they said, are necessary to ensure that counsellors are equipped to meet the evolving needs of students.

The educationists also called for stronger collaboration between parents and schools, noting that a holistic approach is essential for effective student guidance and development.

The renewed demand comes amid increasing concern over the state of student welfare in Nigeria’s education system and the need to align with global best practices where counselling services play a central role in shaping student outcomes.