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Kulwinder Pal, Lovely Professional University Unit 1: Guidance: Meaning, Nature and Scope

Unit 1: Guidance: Meaning, Nature and Scope Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
1.1 Meaning of Guidance
1.2 Nature of Guidance
1.3 Scope of Guidance
1.4 Summary
1.5 Key words
1.6 Review Questions

1.7 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this unit students will be able to:
• Explain the meaning of Guidance
• Describe the nature of Guidance
• Discuss the scope of Guidance

Introduction

Guidance is as old as civilisation. In the primitive society, elders in the family offered guidance to
the young and to persons in distress. Even today, in India, guidance, whether in educational,
vocational or personal matters, is sought from family elders. Guidance-unorganised and informal -
in all places and at all levels has been a vital aspect of the educational process. With the passage of
time, revolutionary changes have taken place in the field of agriculture, industry, business and
medicine etc. These changes in all walks of life coupled with extraordinary growth in our population
has made the social structure very complex. Head of the family or leader of the community with a
limited knowledge of the changed conditions is hardly competent in providing guidance and
counseling to the youth of today. Hence, there is a need for specialised guidance services. In this
unit, we will try to interact with you regarding the meaning and nature of guidance, its need and
scope in India.

1.1 Meaning of Guidance

It is true that a very minor percentage of our total population is capable of handling its problems
independently without the cooperation and guidance of others. We find that majority of the people
do not have either confidence or insight to solve their problems.
There have always been people in the past who need occasional help from older or more experienced
associates in meeting with their problems of daily life in the society.
Traditionally, in our Indian society, the leader of the family or the local community was supposed
to provide the necessary guidance and advice whenever any member of the family or the community

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