Repositioning Guidance And Counselling And Curriculum Innovation In Higher Education In Nigeria

Abstract

This study focuses on repositioning guidance and counseling and curriculum innovation in higher education in Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was employed in the study. The study covered four Federal universities in the South-West Geopolitical zone of Nigeria, namely University of Ibadan in Oyo State; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Oshun State; University of Lagos in Lagos State; and University of Ilorin in Kwara State. The population of the study comprised 241 made up of 195 student counselors and 46 professional counselors from the four selected federal universities in the South-West Geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The sampling for the study was drawn through simple random sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was developed by the researcher using strongly agreed, agreed, disagreed, and strongly disagreed options. The questionnaire was face-validated using five experts - two in the department of Measurement and Evaluation in University of Nigeria Nsukka, one in Curriculum in Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, one in Guidance and Counseling, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; and one in Guidance and Counseling in University of Calabar, Cross River State. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for answering the research questions. A mean of 2.5 and above was accepted while any mean less than 2.5 was rejected. The findings of the study reveal, among other things that education, sense of industry, problem solving, conducive/enabling environment, and planning are various ways professional counselors help in repositioning curriculum innovation in higher education in Nigeria. It is also recommended among other things that both expert teachers/professional counselors and student counselors should participate in the repositioning of guidance and counseling and the design and development of innovative curriculum.