Further training will also be imparted to the nominated teachers to polish their counselling skills. Source: Pixabay
The Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) has nominated a total of 20 teaching staff with relevant experience and qualification in psychology as counsellors for students to ensure better mental health, child rights protection and career development.
Teaching staff with relevant qualifications have been nominated as district counselling coordinators and district counsellors whereas 98 staff members have been nominated as zonal counselling coordinators for coordinating counselling activities in the field besides attending to their routine school duties, an official said.
He said they would implement the guidelines of ‘Manodarpan', an initiative of the Union ministry of education for addressing mental health issues in students and ensuring their well-being.
The counsellors would also oversee the implementation of the counselling activity calendar issued by DSEJ covering diverse topics like psychological first aid, mental health, drug abuse, child protection, career counselling, psychosocial issues, the official added.
The COVID-19 pandemic enormously increased the psychosocial and mental health needs of individuals, particularly school students, he said, adding the new education policy also lays emphasis on guidance and counselling of school students.
Jammu school education director Ravi Shankar Sharma hoped for better handling of stakeholders' mental health issues by these counsellors and said that further training will also be imparted to them to polish their counselling skills.