The effectiveness of counselling services as an equity measure to support vulnerable and marginalised students at selected higher education institutions in Namibia

Higher education offers a high prospect of job opportunities, has more significant economic gains for individuals and communities and impacts social cohesion. It remains the pathway to career opportunities and contributes to individuals' physical and cognitive well-being. Despite the various support services including financial support and counselling services in higher education to increase access and ensure inclusion, anecdotal and media reports indicate that students from marginalised communities in Namibia continue to face exclusion and have low academic achievements. The study explored and discussed the perceived effectiveness of counselling services offered as an equity measure to support students from marginalised backgrounds in higher education in Namibia. This study employed a pragmatic parallel mixed methods design. It comprised two phases: situational analysis covering chapters one to five, and the development of the Student Assistance Programme (SAP) and implementation strategies in Chapter six. Eleven individual semi-structured interviews with the referrers for counselling support were conducted. In addition, six semi-structured interviews from a subset of beneficiaries from the quantitative sample were performed. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis paired with Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). In addition, a quantitative descriptive correlational case study design was conducted, and a consecutive sampling method was utilised to recruit 85 beneficiaries. Despite different funding programmes and counselling services aimed at the retention and inclusion of students from marginalised communities in higher education, the study found that students from marginalised backgrounds continue to endure economic, physiological, psychological, and academic challenges in higher education. Counselling effectiveness as an equity measure is compromised by various factors. Besides the ii delays and lacks thereof, counselling services were found to be more effective in addressing the psychological needs perceived as secondary, such as depression and anxiety. However, the counselling services proved wanting in addressing the primary causes of student distress, such as economic, physiological, social and academic needs. Moreover, the study established significant important clusters of related attributes that promote student resilience and academic success. The findings informed the development of a person-centred, culturally sensitive Student Assistance Programme (SAP) and guidelines for implementation, with well-defined psychological and non psychological support services

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Namibia

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Sheyapo, Mirjam

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Haihambo Ya-Otto, Cynthy

• Marginalised
• Beneficiaries
• Referrers
• Counselling effectiveness
• Counselling as an equity measure

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11070/3925

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.unam.edu.na:11070/3925