A Model of Continuing Professional Development to Support Guidance Counsellors in Meeting the Strategic Planning Challenge

With the publication of Planning the School Guidance Programme (2004), NCGE was asked by the IGC and its branches nationwide to deliver workshops, develop supplements for the Guidance Counsellor's Handbook and develop resources on guidance programme planning.

It soon became evident that schools required more ongoing support that was relevant to their individual context and circumstances. In the light of NCGE's participation in two European projects and the recognition of the appropriateness of Action Research as a methodology for Continuing Professional Development, a proposal was made to the Department of Education and Science to deliver a programme using a combination of distance learning (offered via a Virtual Learning Environment over the internet) and face to face seminars.

This approach would allow guidance counsellors to build on their professional competence in a flexible and accessible way, and to obtain the support of peers, qualified tutors and other school staff in coordinating guidance programme planning in their schools.

Following the Department’s approval, NCGE developed three modules through consultation with the Department, the IGC, guidance counsellors, elearning
and distance learning professionals, action research experts, the School Development Planning Initiative, a school principal and the National Centre for Technology in Education. The advantage of this model of Continuing Professional Development is that it can be adapted for use in all sectors of guidance.

For more information contact NCGE ph: 01 8690715