The Guidance and Counselling Office
The Guidance and Counselling office is a part of the Wellness Department located at the Wellness Center which houses the Nurses’ office, Guidance Counsellor’s office, Sick Bay, Quarantine Room where we focus on a holistic approach in our provision of services to students, faculty and staff.
The mission of the Guidance and Counselling Department is to provide a proactive, comprehensive and appropriate programme to address students’ academic, and career goals, in addition to fostering and supporting their personal, emotional and social growth. This is accomplished through partnership with parents/guardians, spouses, staff, HEART Trust NTA, NCDA, the community and other stakeholders. This empowers all students with the requisite skills to become successful, productive citizens who are lifelong learners in a world of diversity and change.
A major factor in the maintenance of health and wellness is the ability to live in harmony within society while keeping to a minimum the detrimental effect of some pervasive by-products of modern society. Counselling has moved from a peripheral position to illuminate the mind of individual functioning and enriches the soul of our society so it can harmoniously maintain health and wellness.
Some services offered by the Guidance Department are: Individual counselling- where counselling is offered on personal or any other issue that the client is challenged by or overwhelmed with and need help to work through.
Group Counselling – in which interpersonal issues are addressed. At times, students experience difficulties adjusting to college life, coping with the volume of work they have to complete, working with or getting along with each other; and group intervention becomes necessary.
Career Guidance- Sometimes, even at the college level, persons are unsure of what career path they want to take or what profession is most suitable for their personality or, just to confirm/verify if they are on the right path. Career Guidance can assist them in making informed career choices.
Family Therapy- This is probably the single most rapidly growing field in professional counselling today. This is due to increased awareness of the value of counselling and a reduction in the stigma attached to counselling and therapy. There are times when this kind of intervention becomes necessary to aid in the holistic development of the client and make his/her college experience a more fulfilling one. Be assured that family support is vitally important to the success of a student.
Health Education sessions, as well as other topics, are organized by the Guidance Counsellor and presented to class groups, general assembly and other groups by herself, other resource personnel, both internal and external, and guest presenters.
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The Guidance Department provides informational advice on; scholarships (internal and external), Government assistance and grants, such as JAMVAT; where students are required to complete 200 hours of community service at any Government institution or agency. Application must be completed and submitted between April and June of each year. Successful applicants are contacted by the Ministry of Education Youth and Information Tertiary Unit. On completion of the required hours, the Government pays Thirty percent (30%) of his/her tuition.
PATH- Once a student has been a beneficiary of this programme since High school, when he/she enters College, and the PATH office in his/her area is satisfied that he/she is enrolled in that institution, a sum of about Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) is paid to the parent/guardian. NB: this is done only at the Community College level. If the beneficiary is pursuing a Bachelor Degree, Tertiary bursaries are available to him/her. This begins in the second year of study and can continue to fourth year, providing the beneficiary maintains a 2.5 GPA minimum.
The National Youth Service Summer Employment Programme, is one in which youths between the ages of 17 and 24 years can apply for summer employment, where they are placed at entry level positions in private and public entities and are taught employability skills while being paid.
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The department also has an ongoing Peer Counsellors/Educators Programme, where students who display a high level of maturity are selected and trained to provide counselling and guidance to their peers. These students are easily identified by the pin they wear.
There is a Male Mentorship Programme in place, where male students are exposed to experienced male professionals, with high morals and values, who are available to impart valuable skills and provide guidance to them.
The department also boasts a Welfare Assistance Programme in which NEEDY students are assisted with meals, transportation cost etc.
NB: Counselling sessions are available during working hours via telephone, WhatsApp and, coming very soon, Skype.
