Abstract: This study investigated the influence of Behavioral Counseling on Deviant Behavior among Secondary School Students. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design method. The target population for this study consisted of secondary school counsellors in FCT. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 133 respondents across secondary schools in Abuja. The questionnaire titled “behavioral counseling and deviant behavior among secondary school student Questionnaire” was administered to the school counsellors. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the data analysis. The findings revealed that deviant behaviour is caused by a lack of effective parental upbringing.
Influence of Behavioral Counseling on Deviant Behavior among Secondary School Students
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Deviant behaviour varies from one society to another. It is obvious that what might be seen normal behaviour in another community might be seen abnormal in another. For example, in the Northern parts of the state covering of body is a very big culture and it is highly respected as their tradition demand but, in the Southern region it is not allowed while because it is against the ethics of our cultures. But in the north it is their style of dressing and cannot be violated, if one does it has become a deviant behaviour and that person will be sanctioned or killed as their culture permits in the north. However, deviant behaviour should be stamped out to allow development and growth.
Opong (2008) states that deviant behaviour is a disease that is against transparency, justice and fair play. Education is the hallmark of progress for effecting change and growth. Pertinently, it is on the basis of this, that government at all levels shows concern in making education a top most priority to ensure every person’s achieve it and also come up with effective policies that will enhance educational growth of the citizenship (Angel, 2016). The functions of education in metamorphosing the citizens cannot be overemphasized, Agi (2015) posited that education is the art of loading a person from the dark are of ignoramus into the limelight of knowledge and understanding. This means or implies that an educated person can help in transforming the society for positive growth and development.
Some students may go to school, and leave without any idea of the kind of jobs upon their “blink” future. Therefore, young people need guidance and counseling than ever before, for they are living in a considerably more complex world than it was ten years ago (Makinde, 1984:177). In schools, if the collaboration between teachers and students is good, students learn in a 4 practical way. Young people develop degrees of freedom in their lives as they become aware of options and take advantage of them. At it’s best, counseling should enable people to throw off chains and manage life situations effectively (UNESCO, 2000:10). The term counseling is used is used number of ways. For instance, counseling may be viewed as a series of definite direct contacts between a counselor and client aimed at offering the client assistance in adjusting effectively to himself / herself and the environment, as a series of intentions or as a psychological process in terms of its goals (June, 200:3-4). The counselor must therefore go beyond mere interest in the subject and equip himself/herself with the relevant knowledge because counseling deals with complex domain of human behavior.
Influence of Behavioral Counseling on Deviant Behavior among Secondary School Students
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The Government of Nigeria in 2004 through its national policy on education highlighted the need for guidance and counseling services in Nigeria’s educational system to address the young people’s apparent lack of awareness concerning potential career choices and skills on how to deal with some social problems. This called for the training of teachers in the field of guidance and counseling (Republic of Nigeria, 2007). This study calls for an evaluation on follow-up of what has transpired in our schools since then, for reports of rampant students‟ riot and property destruction have continued to feature up to this moment. There seems to be a real social problem and this study actually seeks to find out the cause of this predicament, if it has to do with lack of adequate training among the teacher counselor or limitations put forward by the school administration or the laxity of the parents, the students deviance, or poor governance.
