Page 106 - RASAS 2025

10 Ruhuna Arts Student’s Annual Sessions (RASAS) -2025
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Impact of the Role of School Counselors on Student Well-Being and Academic

Support in Sri Lankan Government Schools

Y.A.S.D. Ranasinghe
Department of Sociology, University of Ruhuna
yasd.ranasinghe@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Student counseling is a professional process that provides emotional, psychological and academic guidance to
improve the overall well-being and personal development of students. In the Sri Lankan government school

system, the functioning of student counseling services plays an important role in supporting both the well-
being and academic needs of students. However, counseling teachers face various systemic and professional
challenges in carrying out their role, and this study examines these challenges using five selected schools in

the Sri Pada Education Division of the Ratnapura Education Zone. The objective of this research was to
examine how the challenges faced by counseling teachers affect the well-being and academic support of

students. Qualitative research methods were used; ten individuals were selected from five schools through
purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were used to obtain primary data, ensuring high accuracy and
reliability, while secondary data were obtained from the Ministry of Education records and school data

systems. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings indicate that counseling teachers face both
systemic and professional challenges. Systemic challenges include high student-to-counselor ratios,

inadequate resources, limited awareness of the importance of counseling among policymakers and
administrators, inadequate parental intervention, and lack of follow-up mechanisms. Professional challenges
include inadequate training and difficulties in maintaining confidentiality. These challenges negatively affect
students, leading to declines in mental and physical health, reduced school attendance, inadequate academic

and career guidance, reduced student trust in the counseling process, and deterioration in discipline. The study
found that these challenges can be addressed through initiatives such as professional training, provision of

adequate resources, and allocating dedicated time for instruction by reducing the teaching responsibilities of
relevant teachers. Accordingly, strengthening these areas is essential to creating a student-friendly school
environment that improves both well-being and academic achievement.

Keywords: academic support, counselors, government schools, Sri Lanka, student well-being

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