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Students’ Attitude Towards Online Counselling: The Case of Higher Institutions in the Sunyani Municipality
Article Number: SIS829150AI190724
19th July, 2024
Author(s):
Stephen Tetteh Corley, Prince Kwame Affum, Daniel Inkoom
Abstract:
The study explores university students' attitudes
towards online counselling within higher institutions in the Sunyani
Municipality, focusing on Sunyani Technical University (STU) and the University
of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR). As a result of the technological
revolution and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, online counselling has
emerged as a viable alternative to traditional face-to-face counselling. This
research adopts a descriptive survey design, utilizing a sample size of 380
students selected through simple random sampling. The data were collected using
a structured questionnaire and analysed using both descriptive and inferential
statistical methods. The findings indicate that students generally view online counselling
as beneficial, particularly appreciating its convenience and flexibility in
fitting into their busy schedules. However, despite recognizing its benefits,
students expressed reservations about the actual utilization of online counselling
services, citing concerns about the lack of personal interaction, difficulties
in establishing trust, and discomfort in discussing personal issues online.
Gender-based differences were also observed, with male students demonstrating a
more favourable attitude towards online counselling services than their female
counterparts. The study underscores the need for online counselling platforms
to address trust-building and personal connection issues to be more effective.
Additionally, tailored strategies may be necessary to encourage female students
to engage more with online counselling. These findings provide valuable
insights for policymakers and educational institutions in designing and
implementing more effective online counselling services that cater to the
diverse needs of students in higher education.