Efficacy of peer counselling on emotional adjustment among orphaned learners in Kenyan schools

Abstract

There has been an overwhelming rise in the number of orphans in Kenyan primary schools. The purpose of this study was to establish the efficacy of peer counseling on emotional adjustment among orphaned learners. The study was informed by Carl Rodgers’ Self-Centered and Skinners’ Behavioral Theories. The study employed sequential triangulation design. Simple random sampling was used to select 30 primary schools and purposive sampling was used to select 60 orphaned pupils, 30 head teachers and 30 teacher counsellors drawn from the selected public schools thus making a total sample of 120 respondents selected from a target population of 404. Structured questionnaires and Interview schedules were used in collecting data. Validity was ensured by expert judgment of lecturers in the Department of Psychology and Technology while reliability was ensured by Cronbach’s Alpha and a coefficient of r = 0.717 was reported. Quantitative data was analysed using inferential statistical techniques. Qualitative data collected from interviews was analysed thematically. The study found out that there was a strong positive correlation between peer counselling and emotional adjustment with r=0.730. This study recommended that the Ministry of Education should enact policies regarding the provision of Guidance and Counselling services, care and support of orphaned children in primary schools with the aim of helping them attain appropriate emotional adjustment.