Abstract
This study aimed to identify the vocational self-concept among education counselors in public schools in the northern
governorates of Palestine in the second semester of the school year 2014-2015. Besides, it aimed to outline the effect of
specific variables, such as gender, specialization, qualification and work experience, on the level of vocational selfconcept
among those education counselors. The researcher used a questionnaire, as a study instrument, which consisted
of 60 items that incorporated five dimensions, namely, knowledge, professional performance, personality traits,
mentality, and appreciation of others. The validity and internal consistency of this measurement instrument was
assessed, where the reliability coefficient score was 0.93. The study sample consisted of 150 public school counselors,
which represented almost 50% of the study population. According to the study results, personality traits were first,
knowledge was second, professional performance was third, mentality was fourth, and appreciation by others was fifth.
The results indicated that there were significant differences in the variable of gender in terms of knowledge and
personality traits in favour of males. There were significant differences in the variable of qualification in terms of
knowledge and appreciation by others in favour of master degrees and above. there were no significant differences at
the levels of specialization and work experience. The most important recommendations included the need to introduce a
bachelor's degree program for educational counseling in the Palestinian universities, setting up clear, specific
educational counselling standards with integrated academic counselor's mental dimensions, and the development of the
education counselor's role in line with school employees' roles.
Key words: vocational self-concept, education counselors, northern Palestine
ربيع شفيق عطير | Rabee Shafiq Oteer | 5963