COUNSELLING STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ENUGU EDUCATION ZONE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated counselling strategies for mitigating bribery and corruption in secondary schools in Enugu Education Zone. One research question and one null hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. The study was tested at .05 level of significance. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study consisted of 59 school counsellors in the 31 public secondary schools in the area. The number is small and manageable; so no sampling was done. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled Counselling Strategies for Bribery and Corruption Scale (CSB-CS).

The instrument was validated by three experts from the Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Mean, standard deviation and t-test statistics were used for data analysis. The findings of the study revealed that secondary school counsellors in Enugu Education Zone perceive organizing seminar, workshop that will benefit the staff and the students on good moral and ethical conduct, helping to build an accountable, responsible and transparent life style for staff and students through sensitization, educating the staff and students on the importance of adhering to stipulated rules and regulations of the school system, encouraging the development of positive mindset towards life and encouraging the development of students’ and staffers’ talents and strengths as the strategies that can be used in mitigating bribery and corruption in the Zone. Again, it was found that there was no significant difference between the mean ratings of male and female counsellors on the strategies they use in mitigating bribery and corruption in Enugu Education Zone. The study recommended among others, that guidance counsellors should be recognized, motivated, empowered and given the opportunity to offer valuable services needed for effective management and eradication of bribery and corruption among staff and students.