Evaluating Educational Guidance Services in Intermediate Schools in Basra City According to the Standards of the Ministry of Education

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the counseling and guidance services in intermediate schools in Basra city in light of the Ministry of Education standards. The researcher adopted a descriptive-analytical method suitable for the nature and objectives of the study. The study population consisted of 131 educational counselors, from which a representative sample of 97 counselors was selected, including 49 males and 48 females.
The researcher used a questionnaire as the main tool for data collection, comprising five main domains: electronic counseling, activities and achievements, values and attitudes, skills domain, and cognitive domain. A five-point Likert scale was employed for participants’ responses. The validity of the questionnaire was verified by experts, and its reliability was measured using Cronbach’s alpha, which reached 0.88 for the entire instrument, indicating very good internal consistency.
The findings revealed that the overall level of counseling services in intermediate schools was generally high, with slight differences among the domains. The values and attitudes domain received the highest evaluation, followed by the cognitive and skills domains, whereas the activities and achievements domain was relatively lower. The study also found statistically significant correlations among the five domains, indicating the interrelated effect of each domain on the delivery of counseling services.
The researcher concluded that counseling services in intermediate schools in Basra are generally efficient, with a need to enhance practical activities and programs to improve overall service quality. The study recommends continuous evaluation of services and training counselors in the use of modern digital tools.