Efficacy of Culturally Responsive Guidance and Counselling in Diverse Early Childhood Settings: Insights from Oyun Local Government Area, Kwara State

Culturally responsive guidance and counselling have gained widespread support in early childhood education; there are growing concerns about their practical efficacy in diverse settings. One major critique is the inconsistent implementation due to the lack of adequate training and preparedness among educators and counsellors. This study examined the efficacy of culturally responsive guidance and counselling in diverse early childhood settings within Oyun Local Government Area, Kwara State, with a focus on how culturally attuned counselling strategies influence the socio-emotional and academic development of young learnerssuch that the cultural values, beliefs, languages, and experiences of children and families are acknowledged and integrated into learning and behavioural support systems. Using a descriptive survey research design, data was collected from teachers, counsellors, and caregivers across selected early childhood centres. Findings revealed that culturally responsive guidance and counselling significantly enhanced children’s adjustment, classroom participation, and interpersonal relationships. Results further showed that counsellors who employed indigenous languages, cultural norms, and community values in their practice achieved more effective outcomes compared with those using generic strategies. Based on these findings, the study recommends that early childhood centres institutionalize culturally responsive counselling approaches as a core component of learning; professional development programmes should be organized regularly to strengthen the competence of teachers and counsellors in culturally inclusive practices; policymakers should integrate culturally responsive counselling into early childhood education frameworks; and parents as well as community stakeholders should collaborate with schools to reinforce cultural values that promote children’s holistic development. Keywords: Culturally responsive counselling, Early childhood education, Guidance strategies, Socio-emotional development. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/16-11-13 Publication date: October 30th 2025