Trained counsellors in schools a must, say experts

In the aftermath of the recent Madras High Court directive to the State government to consider employing trained full-time counsellors in educational institutions as a long-term measure, educationists and representatives from institutions have emphasised the need for the immediate appointment of counsellors in schools.

There is no rule in place yet that mandates the appointment of counsellors in private, government and corporation schools, said E. Ragnayakai, the advocate who approached the High Court over the issue. While government and Corporation schools have counsellors who visit them periodically, the CBSE had mandated in 2014 that its schools have counsellors on campus.

“The last few years have seen an increase in incidents pertaining to child sexual abuse on school campuses and the presence of a counsellor will aid students in opening up to them and seeking help. When there are full time physical education teachers, why isn’t there anyone to address mental health in so many schools?” she asked. Earlier this year, a government school teacher had been arrested in Namakkal after he was found to have been sexually abusing students on the school campus.

Welcoming the move, S. Arumainathan, President of the Tamil Nadu Students- Parents Welfare Association, said that students should also be given sex education so that they are able to protect themselves from abuse.

“While we understand that there might be manpower and budget issues in appointing a counsellor for every school, it would be effective to club about three government and Corporation schools in an area and ensure a full-time counsellor for them,” he said.

P.V. Subbulakshmi, Principal, Agarwal Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School, said that the counsellors on school campuses currently played an important role in helping out with children who had learning difficulties. “Our counsellor who visits the school thrice a week ensures that she meets all the students periodically and also helps us by referring students who need further help to psychologists,” she said.

On June 21, the State Government announced that CCTV cameras have to be installed in all schools. Earlier, only higher secondary schools were required to install them. “The Education Department has also been instructing schools through the Regional Transport Offices (RTO) during the yearly inspection of school vehicles to install CCTV cameras in the buses and vans too but since it is not compulsory yet, not many institutions have done so,” the headmistress of a city school said.

‘If funds are a constraint, a couple of government and Corporation schools can be clubbed’