Stakeholders’ Perceptions on Effectiveness of Counseling Services in Enhancing Gender Equity in Access to Education

Gender disparities in access to education remain a major challenge in Rumonge District, raising questions about the effectiveness of school-based counselling services in promoting gender equity. This study explored stakeholders’ perceptions on effectiveness of counselling services in enhancing gender equity in access to education. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through surveys with students and interviews with headteachers and key informants. This study was guided by the health belief model and Liberal theory which explain how counselling influences learners’ access, retention, and progression in education. Findings indicated that counselling positively affected educational outcomes, the majority of students represented by 62.4% had positive perceptions of the effectiveness of counselling services in promoting gender equity in access to education. Counselling was critical in addressing barriers such as early pregnancy and socio-cultural pressures affecting girls as addressed by key informants; however, stakeholders highlighted that its effectiveness was limited by shortages of trained personnel, irregular services, and inadequate facilities. Strengthening professional capacity, institutional support, and resource allocation is essential to maximize the role of counselling in enhancing gender equity in education.

Counselling services; Gender equity; Access to education

1. Andiema, N. C. (2021). Influence of Culture on Girl Child Education in Central Pokot Sub County, Kenya. East African Journal of Education Studies, 3(1), 26–38. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajes.3.1.279 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Bergstrom, K., & Özler, B. (2023). Improving the Well-Being of Adolescent Girls in Developing Countries. The World Bank Research Observer, 38(2), 179–212. https://doi.org/10.1093/wbro/lkac007 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Bizuneh, S. (2022). Belief in Counseling Service Effectiveness and Academic Self-Concept as Correlates of Academic Help-Seeking Behavior Among College Students. Frontiers in Education, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.834748 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Chandra-Mouli, V., Lane, C., & Wong, S. (2015). What does not work in adolescent sexual and reproductive health: A review of evidence on interventions commonly accepted as best practices. Global Health: Science and Practice, 3(3), 333–340. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. chilambe, K., Mulubwa, C., Zulu, J. M., & Chavula, M. P. (2023). Experiences of teachers and community-based health workers in addressing adolescents’ sexual reproductive health and rights problems in rural health systems: A case of the RISE project in Zambia. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 335. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15199-5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Emruli, S., & Tairi, H. (2023). Investing in Higher Education (Human Capital) Key Factors of Economic Development in Global Flows. Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization, 130, 41–45. https://doi.org/10.7176/jlpg/130-04 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Eze, I. I., Mbachu, C. O., Agu, I. C., Akamike, I. C., Eigbiremolen, G., & Onwujekwe, O. (2023). Determinants of awareness, value perception, and societal support for sexual and reproductive health services among in-school adolescents in South-eastern Nigeria. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1), 505. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09470-z [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Fazel, M., V, P., S, T., & W, T. (2014). Mental health interventions in schools in low-income and middle-income countries. The Lancet. Psychiatry, 1(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70357-8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Gillespie, B., Balen, J., Allen, H., Soma-Pillay, P., & Anumba, D. (2022). Shifting Social Norms and Adolescent Girls’ Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and Information in a South African [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Township. Qualitative Health Research, 32(6), 1014–1026. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323221089880 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Grande, A. J., Hoffmann, M. S., Evans-Lacko, S., Ziebold, C., de Miranda, C. T., Mcdaid, D., Tomasi, C., & Ribeiro, W. S. (2023). Efficacy of school-based interventions for mental health problems in children and adolescents in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1012257 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Holloway, S. L., & Kirby, P. (2020). Neoliberalising Education: New Geographies of Private Tuition, [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Class Privilege, and Minority Ethnic Advancement. Antipode, 52(1), 164–184. https://doi.org/10.1111/anti.12587 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Holtom, B., Baruch, Y., Aguinis, H., & A Ballinger, G. (2022). Survey response rates: Trends and a validity assessment framework. Human Relations, 75(8), 1560–1584. https://doi.org/10.1177/00187267211070769 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. INSBU. (2023). Institut National De La Statistique Du Burundi Annuaire Statistique du Burundi Edition 2022 (pp. 15–138). www.isteebu.bi [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Irene, M. (2023). Addressing reproductive healthcare disparities: Strategies for achieving health equity. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Clinical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 6(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.29328/journal.cjog.1001128 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Mbizvo, M. T., Kasonda, K., Muntalima, N.-C., Rosen, J. G., Inambwae, S., Namukonda, E. S., Mungoni, R., Okpara, N., Phiri, C., Chelwa, N., & Kangale, C. (2023). Comprehensive sexuality education linked to sexual and reproductive health services reduces early and unintended pregnancies among in-school adolescent girls in Zambia. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 348. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-150230 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. MENRS. (2021). Tous les enfants à l ’ école : Rapport de l’étude sur les enfants et adolescent(e)s en dehors de l’école (EADE) au Burundi. 252. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Mohammed, A., Donkoh, I. E., Aboagye, R. G., Ahinkorah, B. O., & Seidu, A.-A. (2024). Access to quality contraceptive counselling among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa. Contraception and Reproductive Medicine, 9, 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40834-024-00267-x [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Okeke, C. C., Mbachu, C. O., Agu, I. C., Ezenwaka, U., Arize, I., Agu, C., Obayi, C., & Onwujekwe, O. (2022). Stakeholders’ perceptions of adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health needs in Southeast Nigeria: A qualitative study. BMJ Open, 12(6), e051389. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Olisaeloka, L., Udokanma, E., & Ashraf, A. (2024). Psychosocial interventions for depression among young people in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 18(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-024-00642-w [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Petrosino, A., Morgan, C., Fronius, T. A., Tanner-Smith, E. E., & Boruch, R. F. (2012). Interventions in Developing Nations for Improving Primary and Secondary School Enrollment of Children: A Systematic Review. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 8(1), i–192. https://doi.org/10.4073/csr.2012.19 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Sage. (2022). Millennium Development Goals and women’s empowerment: Global review report. London: Sage Publications. https://journals.sagepub.com/sustainable-development-goals-at-sage [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Schwarz, J., Manirakiza, R., & Merten, S. (2022). Reproductive Governance in a Fragile and Population Dense Context: Family Planning Policies, Discourses, and Practices in Burundi. The European Journal of Development Research, 34(6), 2666–2687. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-021-00482-1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Sebu, S. (2023). Access to Quality Education, a Basic Right of Every Child. Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 36(7), 41–46. https://doi.org/10.9734/jesbs/2023/v36i71234 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Sentamba, E., & Nsavyimana, Y. J. (2025). Religion and Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy in Burundi. In The Palgrave Handbook of Religion, Health and Development in Africa (pp. 1–18). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62891-7_35-1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Shavkidinova, D., & Suyunova, F. (2023). Education Is an Important Factor in Human and Country [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Development. Current Research Journal of Pedagogics, 04(01), 27–34. https://doi.org/10.37547/pedagogics-crjp-04-01-04 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Sommer, M., Sutherland, C., & Chandra-Mouli, V. (2015). Putting menarche and girls into the global population health agenda. Reproductive Health, 12(1), 24. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Tareke, M., Asrat Yirdaw, B., Gebeyehu, A., Gelaye, B., & Azale, T. (2023). Effectiveness of school based psychological interventions for the treatment of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. PLOS ONE, 18(11), e0293988. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293988 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. UNESCO. (2017). Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives; UNESCO: Paris, France. International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, 2(1), 131–134. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. UNESCO. (2020). Global education monitoring report 2020: Inclusion and education-all means all. UN. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. UNICEF. (2022). Early childbearing and teenage pregnancy rates by country. UNICEF DATA. https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-health/adolescent-health/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Upadhyay, A. (2022). A study on the Role of Education in various facets of Human Development. International Journal of Management and Development Studies, 11(05), 13–16. https://doi.org/10.53983/ijmds.v11n05.003 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Wooten, S., Hurley, E. A., Schuetz, N., Miller, M. K., Rodean, J., Rupe, E., Lewis, K., Boncoeur, M. D., & Masonbrink, A. R. (2024). Barriers to pregnancy prevention for adolescents in rural Haiti: Perceptions of healthcare providers. ResearchGate. BMC Women’s Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-02403136-6 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. World Health Organization. (2014). Adolescent Pregnancy: Issues in Adolescent Health and Development. WHO Publications, 36. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Wu, M.-J., Zhao, K., & Fils-Aime, F. (2022). Response Rates of Online Surveys in Published Research: A Meta-analysis. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2022.100206 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Zuze, T. L., & Beku, U. (2019). Gender Inequalities in South African Schools: New Complexities. In N. Spaull & J. D. Jansen (Eds.), South African Schooling: The Enigma of Inequality: A Study of the Present Situation and Future Possibilities (pp. 225–241). Springer International Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18811-5_12 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study