A School Guidance Program

By SAMUEL B. BATARA

INTRODUCTION

This paper has not been researched out of books or from any other library resources. It rather simply summarizes spur-of-the moment
random thoughts of the writer on how a College/School Guidance Program should be. Minor variations may be effected to make it fit a
secondary level setting.

The projection this paper contains has not merely been dreams waiting to be lived out. It is a product of hasty recollections through
the writer’s experiences, first, as a student for six years in a residential college, and then subsequently working abroad as a full-time
Chaplain and Lecturer in a residential Teachers College for six years, then as part-time Chaplain/Social Worker simultaneously in a number
of educational, medical, and rehabilitation institutions for three years, and finally as an Integral Human Development Trainer for three years.

The program detailed here embodies the firm belief of the writer that any educational program should always be student-orientated,
always aiming at the total and continuing development of both trainees and trainers. A sound and workable Guidance Program serves as
the steering catalyst to ensure that education achieves that ultimate goal. Because Guidance primarily deals with people and relationships,
it should never be an exclusive enterprise but a calling and mission of duty charged to every educator and any other personnel serving with
the school, always bearing in mind one’s own cooperative participatory accountability.

The General Objectives of a School/College Guidance Program can, therefore, be expressed, even repetitively for emphasis, as
follows:

1. To initiate, experiment on, implement, evaluate and improve activities, services, and facilities that provide a fertile training ground
conducive to optimum learning and human development.
2. To enable trainees and trainers to grow together, assist, support and nurture each other in their mutual search for knowledge, common
pursuit for a better future, and living (not just dreaming) meaningful lives.
3. To coordinate, integrate and facilitate student services that enhance a lively, active, responsible, disciplined and productive student
affairs; and,
4. To rally, enjoin and involve the different College personnel to serve together sacrificially in the spirit of love, care, concern, sharing,
understanding and shalom for the benefit, first and foremost, of the students.
 GUIDANCE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
SERVICES
1. Recruitment To give prospective students a preview and
Application make them aware ahead of time, of the
Processing opportunities, privileges, duties,
responsibilities, and discipline they encounter
if they choose to join the school community
To give prospective students ample time to
study and decide whether or not college life is
for them, and to commit themselves to
respond more sincerely to school
expectations
2. Testing Service To examine student’s abilities and inclination,
(Entrance Exam) and to give them direction towards a career
in addition to more fitting to each one.
NEAT/NSAT
Career Guidance
3. Enrolment To introduce students to the college/school
Orientation community and its life, to acquaint them with
available personnel and services, and to
create and implant in them a sense of
belonging;
To pave a smoother way for students’ entry
into college/high school life, and to make
them feel at home all along right from the
start.
TIME MANPOWER AND ACTIVITIES
FRAME RESOURCES
January to Recruitment - series of promotional visits to feeder schools, doing
March Committee; Faculty; a. talk on the affairs presently enjoyed by students, as well as
Registrar’s Office; opportunities, expectations, responsibilities and discipline
Guidance Office; expected of members of their future school;
Student Affairs b. distribution of promotional materials, and even showing
Office; Host schools audio visual programs honestly illustrating different areas of
and their staff and college life;
facilities c. open forum, question-answer type, on oral and visual
presentation above, and on the general set-up of the school;
d. further exclusive meetings with students showing extra
interests and contemplating enrolment;
e. distribution and explanation of application forms
March to Guidance Office; - Pooling together student applicants at a central place where
May Faculty; Registrar’s interviews and necessary testing (supplementary to
Office; Host NEAT/NSAT) such as psychological, general academic,
Schools, their staff aptitude, personality tests, etc. at the level of the
and facilities college/school standards may be done;
- Evaluation of tests and interviews;
- Notification of applicants; inviting those accepted to a set
orientation program.
May to June All faculty - A program of orientation activities duly prepared by an
All auxiliary staff orientation committee, including
Guest speakers a. guided tour of plant, facilities, such as the library, chapel,
School connected gymnasium, clinics, offices, canteens, etc.
personnel b. excursions to outlying places and institutions related to the
university and its communal life, and even places where to
buy educational supplies;
c. talk by different staff, student leaders, and guests on
specific areas of life and services offered in the school,
followed by open forums;
d. presentation and discussion of rules, regulations, and
practices adopted by the school;
e. enrolment assistance, to make entry easier, an otherwise
grueling portion of student life;
f. Medical and physical check of enrollees; for reference to
physical to physical exertions in sports, etc.
 GUIDANCE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TIME MANPOWER AND ACTIVITIES
SERVICES FRAME RESOURCES
- Getting the studentry informed of latest developments and
4. Consultation To keep the community updated and well- All year Student leaders; needs, schoolwise and even worldwide;
Information informed, to consult each other on any minor round, Student Affairs - Run forums, group/class discussions on issues/ problems
Forum and major issues facing the college and timetabled Office; arising; students’ concerns then be forwarded to people or
students; and when Administration and offices concerned;
To solicit the side and voice of students on chances all concerned - Organize consultative meetings between and among faculty,
school decisions, to make each one feel come, e.g. personnel and staff, students, administration at a one on one, class,
accountable and important part of the school assemblies services department, and student body level;
community - Update adequate information materials, bulletins, post
boards, posters, etc.;
- Suggestion boxes and their up-to-date inventories;
- Community / home visitations to where students live;
- Consultative meetings between students and school
personnel.
5. Counseling To enable students and school personnel to All year Guidance Office - Counseling office manned by full-time counselors, open
Spiritual help themselves (face, not fight) difficulties round, an and Counselors; anytime for counseling sessions;
Medical encountered, to adjust to unpredictable open door Chaplains and - Chaplains may be scheduled for counseling services and
pressures, to maintain and safeguard sound service nearby pastors; spiritual directions;
mind, body and spirit in order to pursue Church offices; - Pastors ministers of churches to which students belong are
undisrupted but productive schooling; and to Medical and scheduled counseling contacts with students wishing to
promote supportive relationships. rehabilitation consult them;
officers and - Referrals to medical authorities, psychological, or psychiatric
centers services; or rehabilitation centers;
6. Advisory To assign advisors given certain student Students Faculty; - Periodic time allotted to contacts between department / class
Deanery groupings or sections to oversee where have access Departments; advisors and advisees assigned, to discuss and resolve
Family Hours closer contacts and group consultations can to advisors Administration; academic, domestic and even personal concerns, to share
happen in order to create the spirit of a close anytime; Student leaders; communal or specific directional guidance;
knit family. Family Student Affairs - Deans and heads/chiefs of different departments, facilities,
meetings Office offices, clinics and other services meet with such group of
may be led students to talk about related specific concerns;
once or - Family, interest clubs, departmental club forums
twice a
month
 GUIDANCE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TIME MANPOWER AND ACTIVITIES
SERVICES FRAME RESOURCES
7. Student Services To encourage students to exercise a more All year Student leaders; - Student leaders man their own office that maintain open
Leadership even and efficient service for the good of all, round Student Affairs contacts and consultation with the Student Affairs Office, or
Development to channel students’ ’aspirations and needs Office the former be made part of the latter;
for proper dealing; to give enough room for - Complaints desk receive complaints and concerns of
the practice of leadership, and to promote students to be channeled to proper authorities, offices, or
students’ responsibility in running their own facilities that cater to spiritual, recreational, health
affairs educational needs of students;
- Exercise of an efficient and really serving student
government;
- Leadership training institutes;
8. Social To encourage students to develop socially All year Student leaders; - Organize socialization programs where both faculty/staff and
Outreach and more responsibly as they realize their round Student Affairs students socialize, recreate, and acquaint each other, e.g.
duty and reach out in concern to each other Office; ballroom dancing, fellowship hour, college/school /
and to their people and community Departments department/class dinners, excursions, picnics, etc.
- Inter-school/inter-institutional affairs where students and
personnel of different schools meet and socialize;
- Student / Personnel exchanges;
- Rally both staff and students into community services and
social action
9. Student Evaluation To issue incentives, reinforcements and due Accumulatio Faculty, - Teachers, advisors, chaplains/pastors directly overseeing
Incentive recognition to students in their efforts to n of positive student leaders to students, talk about the strength and weaknesses,
Recognition create and support a disciplined community; and police; behavioral bearings, and academic standing of individual
to develop maturity and accountability; negative departments, students, fill up evaluation forms for record and reference
reports all Guidance Office/ purposes;
year round; Registrar’s Office - Teachers, other school staff, and peer counselors issue
Evaluation to implement; Peer positive or negative reports whenever a particular student
meetings at counselors to be behaves or misbehaves according to school rules and
end of chosen from regulations;
semester sections - Warning/probationary system takes care of extra negative
reports, while citation/recognition awarded to reinforce extra
positive reports
10. Remedial To provide students with extra special time All year Faculty; - Extra advisory meetings with group of student, serving to
Assistance and incentives to develop skills, talents, round Extension Officers guide students make-up for requirements undone; do
Make-up towards a more active and productive elective programs on areas where students lack or show
academic and community output interests; explanation/practicum in areas / matters
considerably difficult to students
 GUIDANCE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TIME MANPOWER AND ACTIVITIES
SERVICES FRAME RESOURCES
11. Practicum To research on and continually develop more All year Faculty; - Students doing guided practicum and getting participating
Interaction appropriate offerings and services to students round Administration; staff in different fields and institutions give feedback on how
Feedback as tested in the fields of actual service Extension Officers educational offerings be improved;
And centers; - Extension staff, personnel with whom practicum students
Alumni; work are encouraged to evaluate appropriateness of
Other institutions training;
- Solicit alumni feedback towards improving program and
services basing on their own experiences and knowledge
tested in the field;
- Inter-institutional visits and exchanges
12. Career Guidance To assure students and graduates of the Graduation Guidance Office; - Encouraging colleges, industries, prospective employers
Employment school’s interest and support in their chosen year Alumni; nationwide and worldwide to communicate the kind of
Posting/Fielding career; not just concerned of the means but Public Service; personnel and qualifications needed
Assistance more of the results. Private sector; - Pooling together of information on employment trends and
Student Affairs positions available to prospective graduates
Office - Inviting successful alumni to speak to students on their
careers
- Getting Department of labor to speak on Special Program of
Employment for Students
- Connecting to the Internet browsing through Jobnet and
Recruitment networks
- Assisting students to apply for positions eve before they
graduate, issuing college confirmation of academic / extra-
curricular records and personal qualities;
13. Follow-up To reach out to graduates and former faculty All year Guidance Office - Updating record of an alumni directory;
Remote control members in order to learn more appropriately round; Registrar’s Office - Contacts with graduates through continuous informative
from them and to improve offerings and At every Student Affairs communication between alma mater and alumni;
services according to feedback given opportunity Office - Graduates may also ask the school for help, guidance, and
assistance on what they feel or experience as lacking, and
vice versa.
In addition to the services mentioned above the following are important responsibilities of the Guidance Department of a high school:
a. Counseling for the complete development of students b. Providing group guidance classes
c. Conducting all testing programs d. Informing students about scholarships and financial aids
e. Maintaining and processing permanent records of students and graduates f. Assisting with summer school or job arrangements
g. Coordinating educational and vocational resource center
h. Arranging and attending conferences with students, parents, teachers and outside resource people if necessary, regarding student progress
i. Explaining curriculum, rules, regulations and expectations for incoming freshmen, new students and parents
j. Assisting in post-high school education selection using available career search tools.