Rethinking Counselling to Embrace the Provisions of ICT for Nigerian Academic Counsellors in meeting the Challenges of an Information Era: Issues for Consideration

Abstract

The paper introduces what technology and information technology is with a synthesis of its contextual meaning in respect to the present usage. An application of ICT in the field of career information and guidance is also seen with respect to the phases of mainframes, microcomputer and the web. A classification of ICT based guidance resources has been discussed; self and opportunity awareness, decision learning, and transition learning. Highlight of barriers preventing the guidance practitioners from gaining e-Guidance skills has been given as lack of accredited programs that focus on specialized ICT training in guidance, lack of other organized ways of developing the ICT skills (knowledge transfer between the practitioners) etc. Hindrances preventing practitioners adopting ICT and obstacles preventing the institutions to provide training focused on gaining the ICT skills were also highlighted. Suggestions given were like recognition of prior learning for the guidance personnel with ICT expertise and incentives for them to train their peers and stay in the system and acquire new positions