GUIDANCE COUNSELLING INSTRUCTORS PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE TO MANAGE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL, ABUJA

Abstract

The study focused on guidance counselling instructors’ professional competence to manage early childhood educational development and learning in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Two research questions were set to guide the study. A survey research design was applied by the researcher, this design helped the researcher to sample respondents from the population (Nakpodia 2010). The population of the study was 549 primary school teachers from twelve primary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council. The sample of the study was 300 primary school teachers (these teachers were used to assess thirty-five guidance counselling instructors in primary schools) in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja. The study sample was obtained through random sampling technique. The instrument was questionnaire on “Guidance Counselling Instructors Professional Competence to Manage Early Childhood Educational Development and Learning (GCIPCMECEDL) “. The instrument was validated by professionals in the Department of Guidance Counselling, University of Abuja. The reliability of the instrument was carried out through pilot study. Test re-test method was used to collate data, Pearson Product Moment and Spearman Rho Rank Order statistics were employed to analyse the data. The coefficient index score of 0.71 was obtained proving that the instrument was reliable. Mean statistics was applied to analyse the research questions. The findings of the study proved that guidance counselling instructors did not apply their professional competence to manage early childhood development and leaning in primary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja. Based on the study findings, the researcher recommended that the state and the federal governments should help the primary school management with fund.  This will help them organize training for guidance counselling instructors to ensure that they are well educated to teach children at the childhood education level. This will enable them to achieve the objectives and goal of childhood education.