COUNSELLING SERVICES IN SECONDARY SCHOOL AS COPING STRATEGY FOR IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

This study concentrated on the usage of counseling services by teenagers in secondary schools as a coping mechanism for better academic achievement. All SS3 pupils in Delta State's public secondary schools made up the population. 252 students made up the sample size and answered the questionnaires. For the investigation, three null hypotheses were posed and evaluated. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire created by researchers called the "Vocational Counselling Services and School Academic Performance Instrument" (VCSSAPI) and using the respondents' results of the SS2 promotion test, a standardized state-wide test, to assess their academic performance. The t-test was used to evaluate the data at 0.05 alpha level. When the results were computed, it became clear that pupils who used the counseling services fared better than those who did not. It was recommended that all schools should be provided with professional counselors to help and guide the students