An Analysis of Career Counseling Services at the Elementary Level in Tehsil Nakyal, Kotli AJ&K

Abstract

This research, which is quantitative and uses a survey method, aimed to evaluate the career counseling services available at the elementary school level in Tehsil Nakyal, Kotli Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It primarily focused on exploring five main counseling services: appraisal, placement, referral, remedial, and informational services being offered to elementary school children. The research method used was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. The study population was 1, 569 students of elementary classes from government elementary schools of Tehsil Nakyal, Kotli AJ&K. A simple random sample of 350 students was selected. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire comprising 15 items was developed and content validity was established by subject matter experts. Reliability was checked by Cronbach's alpha. Data collection was carried out by the researcher personally, and the analysis of the data was performed using percentages, mean scores, and standard deviation. The study shows that a large proportion of students do not agree that appraisal, placement, referral, and remedial services are being provided to them. On the other hand, students expressed agreement that informational services are provided. The results of the study throw light on the fact that the elementary schools provide only informational services to students without an in-depth counseling program at the elementary level. The main source of all these services are the teachers as there is no professional counselor at the elementary level. The suggestions recommend career counseling at the elementary level to orient students about career awareness and educational choices as well as the provision of appraisal, placement, referral, and remedial services to students.