LEARNING DISABILITIES: AN IMPEDIMENT TO VOCATIONAL CHOICE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGERIA:IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING

This paper presents Learning disabilities (LD) as an impediment to vocational choice and development of secondary school students in Nigeria. Learning Disabilities is a lifelong developmental problem that affects the learner's ability to learn effectively and make a choice of the vocation of interest. The main thrust in the theories of learning disabilities is that LD is caused as a result of a subtle disturbance in the brain functions and structures. This problem is inherent in the individual thus inhibits learning abilities, social and psychological functioning of the learning disabled student. While the psychoanalytic view on vocational choice is positive for the normal student, it is however not the same for the learning disabled. Although factors as social, economic, psychological assets determine the vocational choice, the problem of choice of vocation is however complicated for the learning disabled. This is because the presence of emotional conflicts interferes with the ability of the learning disabled to make a choice. The major implication of these problems is that since the learning disabled students encounter emotional problems, occupation or the work environment should be adapted or altered so as to meet certain needs of the students. The recommendation offered suggests the establishment of model counselling and research centres in schools.