Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) has observed that there are 85 counsellors in only 295 schools of Goa. The Commission has said that the school-based counselling is indispensable in the educational system.
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The Commission had a joint meeting on April 13, 2023, at the conference hall, Secretariat, Porvorim, with stakeholders to discuss the status of counselling services in school setting and ways to strengthen the same. The meeting had representatives from Child Rights Commission, Directorate of Education, Psychiatric Society of Goa and Sangath.
Peter F Borges, chairperson of the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in his opening remarks said that children spend most of their time in school and their problems can be identified, dealt with, and improved through counselling thus, avoiding big damages.
He further said that school students, who are at the peak of vulnerability at this age, need a safe space and a neutral and non-judgemental counsellor who understands and helps them to ventilate their feelings and emotions.
He also cited the growing concern about undetected adolescent pregnancies in advanced stages being found in a school setting with no counsellors, arising out of abuse as well as romantic relationships.
While giving recommendations, the Commission has called for universal coverage of counselling scheme as currently only 295 schools are covered with 85 counsellors, implemented by the Goa Educational Development Corporation. Further, long term plan to create and introduce an exclusive permanent position of counsellors in all schools is recommended to address the huge mental health gap that has been emerging lately, post COVID-19 pandemic.
The Commission has also recommended an advisory creating an enabling environment for counsellors by the management for exercise of their roles and including the counsellors in decision making that is dominated by mainstream teachers and administrators.
