Provision of counseling services to distance education learners: a case of Kinondoni Regional Centre of the Open University of Tanzania

The aim of this study was to examine the provision of counseling services to distance learners: the case of Kinondoni regional centre of the Open University of Tanzania. The provision of counseling services to distance learners was examined under four research objectives which guided the study. The first objective was to find out the problems which distance learners face at Kinondoni regional centre. The second objective was to examine the professional environment under which counseling services are offered among distance learners at Kinondoni regional centre. The third objective of the study was to determine the role counseling plays to help distance learners learn smoothly and cope with various problems facing them. The fourth objective was to assess the willingness of the OUT students particularly those enrolled at Kinondoni regional centre to seek for counseling services. The data for the study were collected at Kinondoni regional centre and the headquarters of the Open University of Tanzania. In gathering data, sampling techniques involved stratified random sampling that was employed to select distance learners in which first to fourth year distance learners were involved. Distance tutors were selected based on gender whereby three females and three males were involved in the study. Purposive sampling was also employed in the study to involve the administrators at the headquarters and Kinondoni regional centre. The sample of the study constituted 50 respondents including distance learners, distance tutors, dean of students, regional director, deputy vice chancellor ( resource management ), and deputy vice chancellor ( regional services). The method of data collection included interview, document search and observation. The data were collected and analyzed using qualitative and quantitative approach. The findings revealed that distance tutors who provided counseling services were partially trained counselors and had no experience in learning at a distance. Counseling rooms were not available in the centre and this made counseling to be provided in offices that were used to discharge other official duties. The rooms were not client-friendly due to the fact that they lacked furnishings appropriate for professional counseling office. The majority of distance learners showed dissatisfaction on the quality of counseling services provided with regard to counseling environment, quality of counseling provided and the bureaucratic office procedures that distance learners were to go through before meeting the tutors for counseling.
The study recommends that the Open University of Tanzania should train counselors and create client-friendly environment that will motivate distance learners to access counseling services in the regional centers. Furthermore, the administrators at the headquarters should assess the quality of counseling services provided in the regional centers and make sure that regional centers have counseling rooms which are well furnished to reflect appropriate professional offices.