The State government is mulling implementing measures to address mental health challenges faced by students on the basis of a study conducted by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty has said.
He was responding on Tuesday to a calling attention motion moved by Muhammed Muhassin, MLA, in the Assembly on Tuesday. The MLA sought that a comprehensive mental health programme be implemented in schools and a platform be set up to resolve the mental health issues faced by students. He also pointed out the lack of sufficient number of school counsellors and inadequate facilities for counselling in school.
Mr. Sivankutty replied that following another study by the SCERT on the extent of mental health problems among children, an approach paper prepared by it observed that these could not be addressed solely by concentrating on students; focus should also be on adults interacting with them.
He also mentioned initiatives such as Souhruda clubs for higher secondary students and the training provided to teachers who act as coordinators of these clubs; presence of counsellors who function under the Women and Child Development (WCD) department in schools for high school students; programme targeted at class IX students to make them aware of physical, mental, emotional and social development during adolescence; and a handbook to train teachers so that they could intervene early in such problems with the support of counsellors who, in turn, could rope in WCD’s parenting clinics and psychologists when needed.
Admitting that the services of school counsellors was not available in all institutions, he said the government was mulling steps to empower teachers to function as preliminary counsellors too.
Certain incidents that have occurred in schools recently underline the need for prioritising mental health.
In the case of Global Public School in Ernakulam that came under the lens in the wake of student’s death following allegations of ragging, a preliminary investigation had found fault with the school authorities.
A no-objection certificate was needed as per State and Union government laws to start a school. The school had not submitted the certificate. The Director General of Education had been directed to conduct a detailed probe if necessary if necessary documents were not submitted by the school. Strict action would be taken as soon as the report was received, the Minister said.
Published - February 11, 2025 07:25 pm IST
