Mahler (1977) defines group guidance as: a class or educational experience,
mainly involved with giving out information. In schools, it is usually oriented
towards encouraging students to know what the adults think the participants
should know. Although the same topics discussed in group guidance may also
be discussed in group counselling, the major responsibility in guidance remains
with the teacher. In group counselling the focus is upon each member, not the
topic being discussed. Topics treated under group guidance include effective
study habits, preparing for and taking examinations, and obtaining and using
vocational information. The number of members here range between 20 to 30
persons and the setting is usually the classroom.

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Group guidance activities are an integral part of an effective school programme.
Within a well-articulated guidance programme, group guidance activities
contribute directly to
the
goals of students and the school implementing and
supplementing the counselling and consulting roles of the school counselor. The
school guidance programme that contributes to each pupil’s positive use of the
school facilities. The programme is also directed towards helping teachers and
pupils to create a fertile environment in which children may feel and employ
their development of those skills, knowledge and attitudes that are the pivot of
well-adjusted personality. Within the context of the school guidance
programme, group counselling captures the main essence of the guidance and
portends an active in future in primary school education. Its success depends on
the humility and caution with which the counselor adapts it to the needs of
school children.
3.2
GROUP COUNSELLING
Group counselling is a process by which one counsellor is engaged in a
relationship with a number of counsellees. Most authorities cite six as the
optimum number, with a range from foul to twelve. Group counselling is
usually concerned with developmental problems and situational concerns of
members. The focus is on attitudes and emotions, the choices and values
involved in interpersonal relationships. Members, by interacting with each
other,
establish
helping
relationships
that
enables
them
to
develop
understanding, insight and the awareness of self as a first step to effective
functioning. According to Sherterz and Stone (1981), the vehicle for achieving
this goal in a group is that members discuss their personal emotional concerns
and other members provide feedback about their perceptions of these
experiences. Group counselling can be conducted for remedial, developmental
and preventive purposes.

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Group counseling simply defined, is an interpersonal interaction among
individual with similar concerns in the presence of a facilitator who provides a
suitable atmosphere for these individuals to explore with each other their
feelings and attitudes about themselves or situations. In group counseling
normal children talk about the problems that bother them and try to help each
other learn to behave increasingly more effectively (Ohlsen, 1964). The inter-
