The Provision of Students’ Career Guidance and Counseling in Tertiary Learning Institutions in Arusha Region

Victor Ngaai & Labani Kanyonga
Arusha Technical College, Tanzania
Email: ngaaivictor@gmail.com

Abstract: The process of making career decisions is an important part of students’ growth in higher education. The provision of effective guidance and counseling services has proven to have a substantial impact on career decision-making, assisting students in matching their abilities and interests with job prospects. However, limited research exists on the provision of guidance and counseling in tertiary learning institutions in Arusha region. Thus, this study examined the accessibility and availability of guidance and counseling services and ascertained the usefulness of guidance and counseling in helping students make career decisions in tertiary learning institutions in Arusha Region, Tanzania. The research utilized a descriptive survey design, in which self-made questionnaires were administered to 248 randomly chosen students from a total population of 1,862 students for data collection. The results indicated that tertiary learning institutions in Arusha region had limited and sometimes completely absent guidance and counseling services. Nevertheless, students in tertiary learning institutions in Arusha region pointed out that guidance and counseling services are crucial in shaping their future career paths. Thus, it is concluded that despite the fact that students showed that guidance and counseling services are crucial in shaping their future career paths, tertiary learning institutions in Arusha region had limited and sometimes completely absent guidance and counseling services. Based on the results, tertiary learning institutions are recommended to strengthen and improve the provision of career guidance and counseling services to assist students in making well-informed career decisions which match with their abilities and interests.