A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF COUNSELING NEEDS AMONG URBAN AND RURAL SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE POST-COVID-19 PERIOD (JULY 2022 – JUNE 2024): IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES

This study presents a comparative analysis of counseling needs among secondary school students from urban and rural areas in Malaysia during the post-COVID-19 period (July 2022–June 2024). A total of 400 students were selected through cluster sampling from four schools, two urban and two rural. The investigation employed the Secondary School Students' Counseling Needs Assessment to identify gaps across six domains: personal development, academic performance, emotional well-being, career planning, peer interaction, and family-related concerns. Paired samples t-tests revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) and notable discrepancies between students’ desired and current counseling experiences across all six domains in both urban and rural settings, confirming the presence of unmet counseling needs. The analysis also identified differences in the prioritization of needs between the two groups. Urban students reported the greatest gaps in personal development (1.20), academics (1.14), and emotional needs (1.07), while rural students prioritized academic needs (1.13), personal development (1.09), and emotional well-being (0.75). These findings highlight the importance of geographically responsive counseling interventions that reflect the distinct developmental challenges and contextual realities of students from diverse school environments.