TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: In a major achievement, the Education department has dealt with nearly 25,000 cases of distressed students, including 69 having suicidal thoughts, in the last two years. The officials attribute this to 274 counsellors appointed by the government at 62 secondary and higher secondary schools across the State.
Records with the Goa Education Development Corporation (GEDC) indicate that counsellors identified 26 different types of difficulties faced by students, ranging from slow learning to behavioural problems, addiction to tobacco and drugs, suicidal tendencies and sexual abuse.
“All these cases have been prevented/rectified through regular counselling of the students. In certain cases, their parents are also referred to a ‘counselling cell’ (headed by Dr Pundalik Pai Kakode). These students are back to normal, which is positively reflecting in their studies too,” GEDC Chairman Kanta Patnekar told Herald.
The study also shows that some students were emotionally disturbed owing to different situations faced at home such as living in a nuclear family where both the parents are working. Addiction to TV, mobile phones, computers also impacted students to a certain level in addition to malnutrition and relationships.
Patnekar said that routine interaction between counsellors and students, and counselling of parents, has resulted in significant improvement. “We offer them guidance to ensure better growth of the children physically and mentally,” he said emphasizing their focus is enhancing physical-emotional-social quotient that in turn upgrades intelligence quotient.
To ensure better efficiency, the department holds regular training sessions for the counsellors, besides weekly and fortnightly meetings.
BOX 1
15 more counsellors wanted
The Education department has proposed to the government to raise the number of counsellors by 15, following demands to increase counselling sessions.
“Presently counsellors visit schools twice a week. Since there have been requests from schools for additional counselling, we proposed that the government add more counsellors,” GEDC Chairman Kanta Patnekar said.
Some institutions located in remote areas – where counsellors could not reach – will benefit with the increase in the strength of counsellors.
BOX 2
Need for 250 languages teachers
The Education department is scrutinizing applications and will soon begin the process of filling over 250 posts of teachers for Marathi and Konkani medium primary schools. The appointment will ease stress on schools having fewer teachers. “The applications are in the scrutiny stage following which recruitment will begin,” an official said.
