Guidance and counselling services in Hong Kong secondary schools: Profiles and possibilities

School guidance and counselling services have been in place in most Hong Kong secondary schools particularly after the introduction of the whole school approach in Guidance and Counselling in the Education Commission Report No. 4 released in 1990. Apart from Yau's (1994) and Hui's (1991) studies on aspects of guidance and counselling servieces in selected schools, little had been done to provide a comprehensive picture of the guidance and counselling services in Hong Kong secondary schools. This study aimed at identifying any typical profile of guidance and counselling services in Hong Kong secondary schools, especially in the areas of guidance programs, resources, and written policies. It also aimed at investigating relationships between the background characteristics of schools and their guidance and counselling services. Questionnnaires were used in this study. Data from 39 schools were collected. Typical profiles of schools obtained included guidance programmes that were developmental and equitable, but far from integrative or comprehensive. The whole school approach in guidance was not yet fully in place. There was a need for staff development, but adequate provision in physical resources and policies had been observed. Little relationship was found between background characteristics of schools and their guidance and counselling services. Implications for practitioners, policy makers, and teacher educators are discussed, pointing to some future directions of development of guidance and counselling services. Copyright © 1999 The Hong Kong Institute of Education.