Evaluating 8th Grade Guidance Program: School Counselors’ Insights into 21st Century Skill Development

Abstract

One of the primary objectives of guidance services is to provide professional support to individuals throughout their lives as they strive toward selfactualization. In this context, it is essential to both understand the individual and assist them in gaining self-awareness, enabling them to express themselves effectively in accordance with the requirements of the society in which they live. This study was conducted to examine the extent to which the 8th-grade guidance curriculum fosters 21st-century skills, based on the perspectives of school psychological counselors working in middle schools. A case study design was employed within the scope of qualitative research methodology. The study group consisted of school psychological counselors and guidance teachers working in public middle schools during the 2023–2024 academic year. Specifically, 20 school counselors and guidance teachers were selected through a simple random sampling method from public middle schools in the province of Aksaray. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview form, and individual interviews were conducted with the participants. The data obtained from these interviews were analyzed using content analysis. The findings were systematically categorized into codes, categories, and overarching themes for interpretation. According to the results of the study, based on interviews conducted with the school counselors, four participants stated that the 8th-grade guidance program effectively fosters 21st-century skills; twelve participants indicated that it partially does so; and four participants expressed the opinion that it does not contribute to the development of such skills at all. The findings of this research are expected to make significant contributions to the field of school counseling—particularly in the planning, development, and implementation of classroom guidance programs that incorporate outcomes aligned with the competencies required in the modern era.