Implications of school guidance counsellors in child protection

The roles of the school Guidance Counsellors in protecting Nigerian children from all forms of abuse cannot be overemphasized. Thus, it should be prioritized in our education sector and particularly in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools. Child Protection is a collective task that requires different stakeholders’ contributions both in preventing cases of abuse and promoting […]

The roles of the school Guidance Counsellors in protecting Nigerian children from all forms of abuse cannot be overemphasized. Thus, it should be prioritized in our education sector and particularly in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools.
Child Protection is a collective task that requires different stakeholders’ contributions both in preventing cases of abuse and promoting the protection of Nigeria children.
All stakeholders are not limited to Government Agencies such as National Agency for The Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP), Nigeria Police, Civil Societies such Network of Civil Societies against Child Trafficking, Abuse & Labour (NACTAL), Community Gatekeepers and School Administrators and Counsellors. Their contributions may differ but they all count. As for the School Guidance Counsellors, their areas of intervention include identification, awareness raising and referral to appropriate agencies or bodies responsible for handling such issues.
Capacity Building Training on Child Rights and Trafficking in Persons (TIPs) for the School Guidance Counsellors is a key in enhancing the roles of the School Guidance Counsellors in Child Protection. Thus, when they are well enlightened and empowered, rendering their own quota in protecting Nigerian children from all forms of abuse would become achievable in the school system.
The situation of child abuse in the school system is getting alarming and more predominant in government owned schools. There was a reported case from Nasarawa State of a school girl that was being denied access to treatments despite her health challenges by her guardians. The case got to be known by a concerned teacher and NAPTIP later got involved.
Also, there was another case identified during guidance and counselling services session in a school in the FCT.
So, the place of the School Guidance Counsellors is key in reducing child abuse in schools. The Nigerian Government must rise to these challenges and work alongside with Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Federal Ministry of Justice, NAPTIP and NACTAL as a civil society in order to put an end to this abuse.
Agabaidu is a Guidance & Counselling graduate, [email protected]