Evaluation of peer counsellors’ competencies on performance of counsellees at Moi University, Kenya

Abstract

This study was set to investigate the competence of peer counsellors at Moi University. This was based on the concern that despite the presence of peer counsellors at the university, anti social behaviour such as drunkenness, cheating in exams and stealing still persist among students. The study aimed at finding out whether the training background, methods of training, counselling skills and challenges that peer counsellors encountered had effect on the behaviour of the students they counselled. The objectives of the study were to investigate the training background of the peer counsellors, the methods used in the training, the duration of practicum; identify the counselling skills the counsellors were competent in and establish the performance of the counsellees after counselling. The study was guided by two theories: Hull’s Learning Theory and Kruger and Dunning’s Competence Theory which posits that if knowledge is not used according to the rules the individual becomes less competent. The study adopted a Mixed Method Approach to collect and analyze data. The data instruments used were questionnaires for peer counsellors and counsellees, self assessment questionnaire for students after practicals, interview schedule for informants and Focussed Group Discussions. The research population comprised undergraduate students at Main campus and Eldoret West campus, Moi University. Purposive sampling was used to select 135 peer counsellors from the schools of Education and Arts and Social Science. These were stratified according to the years of their studies. 87 participants were selected for data on counsellees, 54 participants for observation method from counselling students during their practical and 24 peer counsellors for interviews. The data from questionnaires were presented in descriptive statistics in form of frequencies, percentages and standard deviation. Results from qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis method. The data from interviews were transcribed, read through for general meaning and themes and collapsed into major themes. The data was interpreted based on findings. The study revealed that peer counsellors had some knowledge about counselling; that most peer counsellors were conversant with basic counselling skills; that some counsellors were not practicing the skills they gathered from their trainings; that most of them were weak in empathizing, keeping counselling records, assessing clients in readiness for counselling and use of referral; that some had problem of observing professional ethics; that there was poor supervision from their tutors; that they were not recognized by the administration. The study concluded that peer counsellors were averagely competent in counselling