Does It Matter Who You Are? Demographic Differences in Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Guidance and Counselling Services in Secondary Schools in Vihiga County, Kenya
Ameable Baraka
University of Eastern Africa, Baraton
Email: barakaamiable@gmail.com
Abstract: Guidance and counselling programmes support students’ development, but perceptions of their effectiveness may differ across demographic groups. This study examined demographic differences in students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of guidance and counselling services in secondary schools in Vihiga County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive comparative research design. A total of 287 Form Three students were selected from five secondary schools using stratified, purposive and cluster sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.983, indicating excellent internal consistency. Descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) summarized students’ perceptions, while an independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine differences across demographic groups. The findings revealed that students generally perceived guidance and counselling services as effective in enhancing career readiness (M = 3.21, SD = 0.72), personal growth (M = 3.13, SD = 0.75) and academic success (M = 2.95, SD = 0.83). A statistically significant difference was found in perceptions based on gender, with female students reporting higher effectiveness than male students (t(285) = -3.29, p = .001). However, no statistically significant differences were observed based on school type (F(2, 284) = 2.09, p = .126) or residential status (F(2, 284) = 2.65, p = .072). The study concludes that although guidance and counselling services are generally perceived positively, students’ gender influences these perceptions, whereas school type and residential statusdo not. The study recommends strengthening gender-responsive counselling practices to promote equitable experiences for all learners.
