Evaluating The School Counselors’ Professional Competencies Based On The Professional Standards Of Educational Guidance And Counseling

Abstract

The study aimed to reveal the level of possession and practice of the school counselor's professional competencies based on the professional standards of educational guidance and counseling from the counselors' perspective, to reveal the impact of demographic variables and to reveal the predictive ability for the counselors’ possession of the professional competencies by practicing such competencies. The study population consisted of (1109) male and female counselors; the number of study individuals was (323) male and female counselors. Two scales of possession and practice of the school counselor's professional competencies created and the indices of the validity and reliability thereof verified. The results showed that the counselors possess and practice professional competencies at a high level, with a high explained variation of (45.92% and 39.26%), respectively and showed a statistically significant difference between the two means of the counselors' possession of the professional competencies dimension (growth characteristics and demands) attributed to gender in favor of females. It showed a statistically significant difference (α=0.05) between the two means of practicing professional competencies and dimensions thereof (growth characteristics and demands, counseling programs and professional development) attributed to gender in favor of females. It showed that there are significant differences (α=0.05) between the means of possessing and practicing the professional competencies and dimensions thereof attributed to Experience, Specialty and Stage of school and a set of recommendations had concluded.