School counselling services will receive priority attention - Shekerau

(Federal Ministry of Education Report) -
The Minister of
Education, Ibrahim Shekerau has said that plans are underway to
create enabling environment for
Counsellors to render guidance and counselling services at all levels
of the education system.

The Minister stated this when he received the executive members of the
Counselling Association of Nigeria on a courtesy visit to his office
on Friday October10, 2014.
While recounting his experience as a teacher to buttress the
importance of counselling in the
school system, the Minister said that besides having Counsellors in
the schools, every trained
teacher is required to undertake a short course on counselling.

He assured the association of support, adding that efforts will be
made to establish Counsellors' Offices in all schools, commencing with
the Unity Colleges.
Ibrahim Shekerau expressed concern over the state of
indiscipline experienced in the
country, in spite of the increasing number of educated people;
noting that education is expected to inculcate discipline
in the society. He further charged
the association to come up with strategies to reverse the trend.

Speaking earlier, the President of the Counselling Association of
Nigeria, Alfred A Adegoke (Prof.) informed the Minister about the
association's activities, expressing their readiness to
support the Ministry's efforts to reposition the education system.

He added that the association has a working relationship with relevant
MDAs to coordinate, supervise and provide counselling services in the
country.
Alfred Adegoke also appealed to the Minister to assist the
association in meeting some needs, especially in fast-tracking the
bill for an Act to establish the
Counselling Practitioners' Council
of Nigeria as well as completion of the association's secretariat in Abuja.

Reference: Min. Of Edu.Nig.