Description

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Learning disabilities is one of the disabilities of children with special needs. Special educational needs relates to terms like disability, impairment, handicap, and other special needs. UNESCO (2016) refers to people with special needs as those that have emotional, behavioural, sensory, physical or mental disabilities. Students who – for a variety of reasons (intellectual, physical, social, psychological) experience learning disabilities which are more significant than those experienced by majority of learners of the same age. Such students need special educational needs. According to Olivier and Williams (2015) the learning disable child has special educational needs and is thus often regarded as special in the sense that he requires assistance and support to overcome contextual, social and individual difficulties. These difficulties may also include slow cognitive development (reasoning, problem-solving, remembering and generalizing), as well as slow language development.

The learner disabled children find it difficult to comply with the demands and expectations of society, possibly because of his perceived lack of performance or potential in classroom (Stakes and Hornby, 2017). They are often treated with little interest or sympathy, with uneasiness, fear, embarrassment and/or even disgust. Special needs exist where learners require special help and support if they are to overcome the particular contextual, social and individual disadvantages they face (Donald 2017). Olusola (2013) sees persons with learning disabilities as those who have difficulties in realizing their full potential; their emotional, physical, social or intellectual performance falls bellow or rises above that of others. The differences may be related to physical, cognitive, emotional or psycho-social factors or a combination of these. The person with special needs include: those with hearing impairment, gifted and talented, visual, speech and language impairment, orthopaedic impairment, social maladjustment, learning disabilities and multiple impairment (Olusola, 2013). However, these individuals require skilled identification; intervention and special care from trained professional special educators to enable them achieve their goals and at the same time receive adequate quality education.

Counseling is defined by different authors. Aderinto (2011) states that Counselling is submits the definitions in the following ways: the process that occurs when a client and counselor set aside time to explore difficulties which may include the stressful or emotional feelings of the client. It is also the act of helping the client to see things more clearly, possibly from a different view-point. This can enable the client to focus on feelings, experiences or behaviour, with a goal of facilitating positive change. Counseling is also a relationship of trust. Professional counselors will usually explain their policy on confidentiality. They may, however, be required by law to disclose information if they believe that there is a risk to life (Aderinto, 2017).

Due to educational and economic challenges they have to gripple with; parents are left with no time to positively parent their children. The result is permissive parenting style, which has its toll on the growing child. Permissive parenting style has no rules or limits. Also, modernization in Africa has caused the disintegration of the traditional and social structure, He suggested the clear supportive and progressive policies are needed to deal with most problems facing youths through schooling. Such policies can be implemented through the integration of counseling in junior secondary school programs.

Education for persons with special needs Act (2004) define special educational needs as restriction in capacity of a person to participate in and benefit from education on account of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or learning disability or any other conduction which results in such individual learning differently from one without that condition. Special educational needs relates to terms like disability, impairment, handicap, and other special needs. Kagan (2020) states that a special needs child is a youth who has been determined to require special attention and specific necessities that other children do not. The state may declare this status for the purpose of offering benefits and assistance for the child’s well-being and growth. Special needs can also be a legal designation, particularly in the adoption and foster care community, wherein the child and guardian receive support to help them both lead productive lives.

The emotionally challenged child has special educational needs and is thus often regarded as special in the sense that he requires assistance and support to overcome contextual, social and individual difficulties. These difficulties may also include slow cognitive development (reasoning, problem-solving, remembering and generalizing), as well as slow language development. The learner with emotional challenge finds it difficult to comply with the demands and expectations of society, possibly because of his perceived lack of performance or potential.

Counseling as the third force in education along with instruction, is an integral part of educational system. Guidance programmes for persons with learning disabilities are designed to address the physical, emotional, social, vocational and academic difficulties of adolescent students. This is to complement learning in the classroom and also to enhance academic performance/achievements of students. Guidance plays a vital role in preventing educational, personal, social, mental emotional and other similar problems among junior secondary school students.

1.2       Statement of Problems

Persons with learning challenge who wish to achieve in their academic pursuit is of no doubt need emotional balance. Meanwhile, emotional problems are numerous to the life of Nigerian students especially those who are living in the South Western part of the county popularly known as the Yorubas. These emotional problems ranges from divorced parents, financial problem, societal problem, bullying from friends  and hosts of others. These problems are of no doubt affecting the academic excellence of persons with learning challenges.

However, it is believed that access to qualified counselors, appropriate educational services and academic remediation may make a difference to whether or not learning challenged persons are able to achieve academic success. Also, it is posited by the researcher that educators, counselors and community service providers are attempting to understand and define their roles, in fixing the academic challenges of all students in general. This is the reason why parents teachers association meeting is given preference by both public and private schools. What bothers the mnd of the researcher is that of what impact is counseling service in schools assist in solving the emotional problem of learning challenge person in Nigerian secondary schools?

1.3       Purpose of the study

The main purpose of the study is to determine the impact of counseling service in solving the emotional problem of learning challenge person in Akinyele Local Government, Ibadan. Specifically, the study intends to:

1. Find out the level of counseling services available for emotional problems of learning challenge.
2. Find out the effects of counseling on the academic performance on learning challenge persons
3. Determine the relationship between counseling and academic performance of students of learning challenge persons

1.4       Research Questions

1. Is there any impact of counseling service in solving the emotional problems of learners with learning challenges in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State?
2. What are the nature of emotional problems facing the persons with learning challenge in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State?
3. To what extent does emotional problems affects the academic success of learners with learning challenge in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State?

1.5       Significance of the Study

The study on the impacts of counseling service in solving the emotional problem of learning challenge person is significant in the following ways:

1. School Management: The findings of this study will help to remind school management the essence of counseling service especially for learners with emotional problems and students who have challenges in their academic pursuits.
2. Government: As it is clear that government is in charge of academic design for Nigerians. The findings will aid the government to know the extents that students who are having learning challenges are affected due to poor counseling service.

• Students: The findings will also help to educate students on the importance of counseling service as related to their educational pursuit.

1.6       Scope of the Study

This research focuses on the impact of counseling service in solving the emotional problem of learning challenge person. The scope of the study is Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.

1.7       Definition of Terms

Impact: This means the positive and negative effects of counseling service on persons with learning challenge.

Counseling Service: In this study, it means a designed unit set in secondary schools that involves the development of a confidential professional relationship that focuses on personal problems of every study

Emotional Problem: In this study, it is referring to the problems affecting the psychological state of persons with learning challenges.

Persons with Learning Challenges: In this study, it is used synonymously to represent persons with learning disabilities. This means persons who have difficulties in understanding their studies easily.