The Roles, Practices, Challenges, and Demands of School Counselors in the Caribbean: Recommendations for Educators

• In Event: Theorizing on Educational Issues Affecting the Marginalized

Abstract

Guidance counselors were first introduced to Barbados in 1988 and since then their roles have expanded. Their work includes supporting students and families while preparing students for the future workforce and being productive citizens in the community at large. This study identifies their roles, practices, challenges and demands. The study also questions which factors impact school counseling in Barbados, an island located in the Caribbean, and considered a small state. The study has implications for educators preparing trainees for work with diverse populations and in diverse settings. The implications include policy recommendations and the role of the government in school based counseling.

Authors

• Dominiqua Monica Griffin, U.S. Senate

• Julia Bryan, The Pennsylvania State University