UEW Scholars Secure Grant to Transform School Counselling in Ghana

A team of scholars at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in partnership with a team at the University of Pennsylvania has received a significant research boost following the award of a grant to support a study to strengthen school guidance and counselling systems across Ghana.

The year-long project is entitled “Strengthening Ghana’s School Guidance and Counseling Training Programs through Research, Policy, and Practice.”  

Designed as a national tracer study, the research will examine the preparation, work experiences and effectiveness of school counsellors within Ghana’s educational system. It will interrogate how existing training programmes align with emerging demands such as student mental health support, career guidance and socio-emotional development.

Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the study will combine large-scale survey data with in-depth interviews involving counsellors and key stakeholders. This dual strategy is expected to generate both broad national insights and nuanced understanding of the realities shaping counselling practice in schools.

The project is co-led by an international team comprising Prof. Sharon Wolf and Prof. Marsha Richardson from the University of Pennsylvania, United States of America alongside a Ghanaian research team comprising Prof. Patricia Mawusi Amos from the Department of Counselling Psychology at UEW (Co-Investigator) with Prof. Theresa Antwi, Dr. Bernard Mensah Amoako and John Rye Gyabah Adade.

Beyond its immediate research outcomes, the initiative is expected to significantly enhance UEW’s research visibility, strengthen international partnerships and contribute to evidence-based policy reforms in Ghana’s education sector. The findings will also inform curriculum improvements in counsellor education programmes and expand opportunities for faculty and student research engagement.

Implementation is scheduled from March 2026 to February 2027, culminating in high-level dissemination activities targeting policymakers, practitioners and academic stakeholders. The project positions UEW at the forefront of national efforts to professionalise and modernise school counselling services in Ghana.