Roles of Counsellors in Promoting Sexuality Education for In-School Adolescents in Nigeria

Abstract

Research was embarked upon to investigate the role of counselors in promoting sexuality education for in-school adolescents in Nigeria. The respondents were made up of 120 practicing guidance counselors in Enugu State situated in South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. They were drawn from both professional and teacher counselors practicing in 220 public secondary schools in the state. Structured questionnaire and respondent’s perceptions were data gathering instrument. The findings show that their identified roles are value re-orientation for students, enlightenment programme for parents on the need for the growing adolescents to be kept abreast of their developmental changes, information dissemination on benefits inherent in sexuality education, and creating awareness through lectures, seminars, workshops, and conferences on the objectives of sexuality education. However, they are constrained in carrying out these roles because of lack of fund, lack of awareness on what sexuality education is all about cultural and religious interferences. It equally perceived that measures like provision of adequate funds, removal of cultural inhibition, the use of media and moral instruction, as well as value re-orientation could be used to eliminate the constraining factors. Based on the above, policy-makers were called upon to find intervention strategies for removal of the constraints as a way for enhancing sexuality education at secondary schools.