DESAM for counselling service in schools
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 24 2023:
Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has submitted a memorandum to the chief minister and the education minister demanding appointment of full time counsellor or psychologist in all educational institutions of Manipur.
In the memorandum, the students' body pointed out mental health challenges among children, adolescents and their families over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic have witnessed soaring rates.
While the emotional and behavioural challenges experienced by adolescents do not always rise to the level of diagnosable mental disorders, they nonetheless warrant serious attention.
Most adolescents exhibit high rates of insecurities, unruly behaviour, drug abuse, distress, pressure, depression, anxiety and suicidal tendencies.
In spite of this, many schools in Manipur have failed to address this mental health issues appropriately which could have a negative effect on the students' well-being and academic performance.
As majority of youth and children spend a considerable amount of time in schools, making educational institutions an ideal environment to provide timely and convenient access to mental health services is a must, the memorandum said and sought prompt attention and intervention from the authority concerned particularly the chief minister and the education minister.
According to the DESAM memorandum, certain schools in Manipur issued transfer certificates to students and such students are barred from taking board examination at the eleventh hour solely based on poor academic performance in their pre board tests.
This is a clear indication that the schools have failed to provide early diagnosis and timely intervention for students who fall under this category.
It is imperative that schools in Manipur implement a more robust system for identifying and supporting students who require academic assistance.
Various policies and organisations also point towards urgent need and significance of the requirements of school counsellor or psychologist.
NCERT, CBSE, 10th Five Year Plan (Planning Commission, GM), NEP-2020 have made a strong recommendation to appoint qualified school counsellor or psychologist to deal with stress related problems and incorporate teachers and parents to lessen the student's stress, DESAM said and reiterated the demand for having a counsellor or psychologist in every educational institution of Manipur.