Counselling intervention strategies for student success and retention in National Open University of Nigeria

Abstract: In the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutions all over the world, students often persevere despite all odds to complete their programmes in order to achieve their educational goals. This act of persistence (retention) in order to graduate is a major index of student success as well as institutional success or performance. This study looked for some appropriate counselling strategies that could be used to ensure student success and retention in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). The study employed the simple survey research design using a sample of 2, 088 undergraduates of various programmes in the university. A researcher designed instrument entitled student success and Retention Inventory (SSRI) was developed using four-scale response categories, which was duly validated by experts in counselling psychology for data collection. Using descriptive statistics for data analysis, it was found among others that completion of courses on time; availability of student resources, it was improved quality of student life and learning are some elements of student success in NOUN. Some variables were also discovered as enabling environment and support services in NOUN have impact on student success and retention. The study also discovered some counselling intervention models that could ensure student success and retention. These findings generally conform to similar discoveries in prior research activities in other parts of the world. It was recommended that counselling as an integral part of student support services should be given its rightful position in NOUN.

Keywords: Counselling, student success, student retention.