HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY, GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
The department came into existence in the 1988/1989 session with Dr. (now Prof.) T.W. Yoloye, a Sabbatical staff as the first Acting Head. He handed over to Dr. (now Prof) C.O Iwundu in 1989. The department had only four staff which included Miss T. Sampson (now Prof.) Mrs. T. Jambo and Prof. C.O Iwundu.
The department was established to admit direct entry students coming in to study Guidance and Counselling at the degree level. It was not until in 1995 that Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UME) Students were admitted into the programmme. The department became enlarged and was known as the department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling, and thus incorporated some former staff of the department of Educational Foundations. The new staff who joined from the department of Educational Foundation included Dr. (Mrs) Andah, Mr. (now Prof.) Asure, Mr. (now Dr.) Agomoh, Miss B. Inkpo-Tariah, and the late Dr. Igwe.
In 1992, the Counselling Unit was established, particularly in response to the growing psychological needs of the students. The department mounted a “Radio Counsellor” programme in Radio Rivers, FM station, Port Harcourt in which two lecturers of the department Dr. (now Prof.) K.C Uzoeshi and Dr. (now Prof.) J.B Kinanee were major participants
In the year 2000, two members of the department were selected by Rivers State Ministry of Education for a Master training programme in Adolescent Reproductive Health Counselling Skills organized by the United Nation as Population Fund (UNFPA) in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health in Ijebu-ode. Since after the two weeks training, they have been regularly used by the State Ministry of Education as resource persons in the Family life and HIV/AIDS Education (FLHE) programme in the training of school counsellors in the state.
The department at present mounts programmes at Masters and PhD. Levels (Guidance and Counselling, Educational Psychology, Measurement and Evaluation and Special Education) respectively. He department also has over 500 students at the undergraduate level and over 250 postgraduate students who have been known to be hardworking and highly disciplined.
On behalf of the members of staff and students of the department, I congratulate every student admitted into this prestigious department and pray that you have a successful, fruitful, focused and memorable time of studentship.
Dr. S.N Ordu
Head of department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling.
VISION
The vision of the department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling is to produce well adjusted scholars who will be able to contribute meaningfully to societal development and in helping our youths to resolve their educational, vocational and personal social problems. The students at the post graduate level are to specialize in Guidance and Counselling, Educational Psychology, Measurement and Evaluation and Special Education. The graduates of the department are expected to compete excellently with their counterparts from related disciplines in other universities all over the world.
MISSION
Production of graduates in guidance and counselling, who will help in developing the educational, vocational and personal-social talents of our youths at the secondary and tertiary institutions, thereby helping in reducing the huge gap in the shortage of manpower in counselling and to help our youths live a social vice free life that will help them become responsible citizens of Nigeria.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT
- To produce graduates in guidance and counselling who will compete with other graduates in the same discipline all over the world.
- To help in counselling students in the university who have educational, vocational and personal-social problems.
- To initiate programmes that will help in curbing deviant behaviours and social vices among students and staff.
- To help in producing manpower in related areas like industrial psychology, social services, special education, mental hygiene
- To help in resolving conflict(s) between students and students, students and staff
- To take active part in organizing orientation programme for the university annually
- To help in maintaining peace and stability in the university.
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