INFLUENCE OF CHILD ABUSE ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN JOS NORTH: IMPLICATION FOR COUNSELLING

The study investigated the influence of child abuse on academic achievement of junior Secondary School students in Jos north. Counselling implications.It was guided by 7 objectives and 7 corresponding research questions. A cross-sectional correlational survey design was adopted for the study, targeting the 18 public Senior Secondary II schools, with a total population of 1,408 students. From this population, a sample of 152 students was selected across five schools. Data were collected using a structured instrument titled Influence of Counselling Services on Study Habits Questionnaire (ICSSHQ). The findings revealed, among other things, that counselling services positively impacted students’ ability to manage their academic time. Most students reported improvements in creating study timetables and prioritising tasks. However, some struggled with consistently allocating time for individual subjects, indicating a need for further support in structured time planning. Students generally agreed that counselling helped reduce distractions and improve focus. Many adopted concentration techniques recommended during counselling sessions, demonstrating that these interventions were effective in enhancing study discipline and mental engagement. Counselling also played a meaningful role in boosting students’ motivation. It helped them set realistic goals, monitor their progress, and break down academic tasks into manageable steps. While motivation levels were generally high, some students required additional guidance in consistently tracking their academic growth. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended, among other things, that counsellors should provide structured time management workshops to teach students how to create realistic study timetables and prioritise academic tasks. Follow-up sessions should be organised to monitor students’ progress and reinforce consistent time allocation strategies. Counsellors must also assist students in identifying and overcoming personal or environmental barriers to effective time use. Furthermore, counsellors should introduce and demonstrate practical concentration techniques such as goal-oriented reading, time-blocking, and distraction control.