ROLE OF SCHOOL COUNSELLORS IN MANAGING ADOLESCENT CONFLICTS IN BILLIRI L.G.A., GOMBE STATE

Abstract

Adolescent conflicts in Nigerian secondary schools have become increasingly prevalent, manifesting in forms such as peer jealousy, bullying, romantic rivalry, and ethnic-based cliques,which negatively affect students’ academic performance, emotional well-being, and overall school climate. Despite the strategic role of school counsellors in conflict prevention and resolution, many public secondary schools, particularly in rural areas, lack adequately trained and fully engaged counselling personnel. The absence or limited effectiveness of counselling services raises concerns about the capacity of schools to manage adolescent conflicts proactively and systematically.This study therefore investigated the role of school counsellors in managing adolescent conflicts in public secondary schools within Billiri Local Government Area (LGA) of Gombe State. Guided by four research questions and two hypotheses, it assessed the availability of counselling services, nature and frequency of adolescent conflicts, perceived effectiveness of counsellors, and challenges they face. A descriptive survey design using quantitative methods was adopted. Stratified random sampling selected six schools (urban and rural), with 120 students and 12 counsellors participating. Instruments used—Counsellor Role Effectiveness Scale (CRES) and Adolescent Conflict Experience Questionnaire (ACEQ)—were validated and yielded reliability indices of 0.78 and 0.81. Results showed limited availability of trained counsellors, common conflicts such as peer jealousy and bullying, and a positive correlation between active counselling services and lower conflict rates. Challenges included lack of training, heavy workload, and inadequate facilities. The study recommends strengthening counselling units, targeted training, and policy support.