Integrating Vocational Education and Counseling Services into School Management for Enhancing Students’ Employability Skills in the 21st Century

Abstract

The increasing demand for 21st-century employability skills has placed renewed emphasis on the integration of vocational education and counseling services within school management. This study examined integrating vocational education and counseling services into school management for enhancing students’ employability skills in the 21st century. The study employed descriptive survey research design. It was carried out in Aguata education zone of Anambra state, Nigeria. The population of the study comprised 217 subjects (principals, vice-principals, and guidance counselors and Vocational Education Teachers). A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach Alpha method, which yielded a reliability coefficient of .93. Data collected were analysed using mean scores and standard deviation. Findings revealed that the extent to which vocational education is currently integrated into school management practices for promoting students’ employability skills is high; the study also revealed that the extent to which counselling services provided in schools contribute to the development of students’ employability skills in the 21st century is high. Results also indicated that school management plays a vital role to strengthen employability skills development through vocational and counselling programs. Some identified challenges hindering the effective integration of vocational education and counselling services into school management include; inadequate funding, lack of clear government policies on vocational education and counselling integration, insufficient facilities and infrastructure restrict the practical implementation of vocational education among others. The findings of the study revealed several strategies that school management can adopt to strengthen the integration of vocational education and counselling services for enhancing students’ sustainable employability in the 21st century include; capacity building and professional development for teachers and counselors, partnerships between schools and industries, policy support and resource allocation, adequate funding and resource allocation for vocational and counselling programmes among others. It recommends that education authorities provide adequate funding, training, and infrastructural support to strengthen school management practices, while counselors and vocational educators should collaborate closely in guiding students towards realistic career pathways and skill development.