School counselors' opinions on eighth grade guidance curriculum's effect of levels of acquisition of 21st century skills (8th Grade)

One of the most important goals of guidance is to provide professional services to individuals throughout their lives in the process of self-realisation. In this process, it is to recognise the individual and help them to recognise themselves, to ensure that they express themselves effectively in accordance with the requirements of the society in which they live. In the developing age, the individual can only be provided with education to have developing technology and skills. Providing education in line with the achievements for the development of these skills will make it easier for individuals to fulfil the requirements of the society in which they live and to communicate effectively. The importance of the research is that the results of the research will provide information to the people who provide services in this field, give ideas to the researchers who plan to provide services in this field, and support the process of preparing and implementing guidance programmes that include achievements that will provide individuals with the skills of the age in which they live. In the study, case study design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. The study group of the research consists of School Psychological Counsellors and Guidance Counsellors working in public secondary school institutions in the 2023-2024 academic year. The participants of the study consist of 20 Psychological Counsellors and Guidance Counsellors of 20 schools with Psychological Counsellors and Guidance Counsellors selected by simple random sampling method working in Aksaray province in the 2023-2024 academic year. In the research, a semi-structured interview form was used. As a result of this form, individual interviews were conducted as a data collection tool. The data obtained as a result of the research were analysed by content analysis method. As a result of the research, the interviewed school counsellors revealed that there are problems in the guidance programme planned for 8th grades in terms of objectives, outcomes and activities, such as the inclusion of activities that partially provide 21st century skills, the classroom environment is not suitable for implementing activities, the cooperation of school stakeholders is insufficient, the existence of activities that are not suitable for student levels, the excess of stationery and material materials in the activities and the insufficient number of class hours for implementation. Guidance counsellors made suggestions such as revising the programme, introducing the programme for the cooperation of stakeholders and increasing the course hours. Keywords: 21st century skills, Guidance program, Program evaluation, Guidance Services Science Code : 10203 Number of Pages :153