This study was aimed at assessing the extent to which sensitization and awareness on existence and importance of guidance counseling can foster the effectiveness of guidance and counseling services in Cameroon State universities. The research was carried out in four State universities in Cameroon notably University of Buea, University of Bamenda, University of Douala and University of Yaounde II using a sample of 577 students, 26 guidance counselors and 21 university administrators. The study employed a survey design considering triangulation whereby qualitative and quantitative approaches supported each other to strengthen the validity and reliability of the findings. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to sample four State Universities while participants were involved in the study conveniently. Two sets of questionnaire, one for students and another one for GCs were used while an interview guide helped to gather data from the administrators and lecturers. Data were digitalized with the support of EpiData version 3.1, and were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using SPSS 21.0. As for the textual data (qualitative data), their abstraction was reduced following the process of thematic analysis. The findings unfold that majority of students were aware of the existence of guidance and counseling services in their faculties / schools / institutions with a proportion of 88.5% (23). But their awareness of the importance of guidance and counseling services to them was quite poor. Paradoxically, only 9.2% (53) of the students indicated that they have ever benefitted from guidance and counseling services of their institutions. Participants suggested the improvement of students’ awareness of guidance and counseling services, that teachers should help in educating students on the importance of guidance and counseling services, that Guidance Counselors should organize workshops and visit students in their class in order to enhance students’ areness and familiarity with guidance and counseling services and where their offices are found. It was emphasized that on orientation days, university officials and guidance counselors should introduce students to guidance and counseling services.
Guidance counselor, sensitization, awareness, existence, importance, effectiveness, services
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