GES Trains SHS Counselors to Support Special Needs Students

Organized on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at the GNAT hall, the Ashanti Regional Branch of Ghana Education Service (GES) launched a workshop to train school based guidance and SHS counselors on best practices to apply to effectively support students with special needs.

The workshop was purposely designed for senior high School (shs) counsellors and coordinators.

During the workshop, some discussions engineered was about the qualities of a good counselors. The workshop provided practical tactics to address the everyday problem faced by students, especially those with special needs.

The workshop had presentations from leading figures in the guidance and counseling sector of GES, who shared their expertise and insights.

Speaking at the sidelines of the workshop, Mrs. Faustina Anyamesem Poku, Head of the Guidance and Counseling Unit in the Ashanti Region, emphasized the importance of students and parents embracing counseling.

She stated that Alot of students might avoid seeking help from school counsellors, leading to unbalanced decision making during difficult times.

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Mrs. Poku brought to light that guidance and counselling help schools push well motivated students who take responsibility for their studies and make goals for personal achievements.

She also emphasized the necessity for parents to always support their children when seeking counsel.

She asserted that parents involvement is important in normalizing the use of counseling services among pupils, which can impact their academics and personal success.

Moreover, she elaborated that counselling is not to address only academic problems but emotional, social, and psychological problems as well. She believes this helps achieve holistic development.

Dr. Kwame Amankra Appiah, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, thanked the Guidance and Counseling Unit for organizing the workshop.

He explained that guidance and counselling is a lifelong process that addresses various student need such as Career development, social, emotional, religious, and psychological support.

Dr. appiah said that effective counseling builds confidence in persons, motivated people, and raises awareness of new career opportunities, promoting a good life.

According to Dr. Appiah, continuous learning is required in the field of counseling and guidance as the field is always evolving and changing. This requires that professionals need to be up- to date with new informations.

He advised the counseling and guidance coordinators to apply the techniques learned at the workshop in their respective senior high schools and to continue seeking more knowledge.

The workshop included interactive sessions where participants engaged in role-playing and scenario-based exercises to practice their counseling skills.

These activities were designed to provide hands-on experience in dealing with real-life situations that students may face.

The coordinators left the workshop with enhanced capabilities to provide comprehensive support to students with special needs, ensuring they receive the guidance necessary to thrive both academically and personally.

In conclusion, the workshop organized by the Ashanti Regional branch of GES represents a significant step towards improving the support system for students with special needs.

By equipping Guidance and Counseling Coordinators with the necessary skills and knowledge, the GES is ensuring that students have access to quality counseling services that can help them navigate their educational journeys and personal development more effectively.

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