‘Teachers need to double up as counsellors in government schools’

“The teachers in government schools are not equipped to handle the students who are emotionally distressed. The government must engage them in various programmes to enable them to take care of children with specific needs,” says educationist P Natarajan. 

President of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Association Illamaran said, “We asked for a psychologist to be appointed for each school last year, but it has not been done. Currently, we have a psychologist at zonal level, who covers over 20 odd schools. There are students from broken homes, slow learners and even orphans, they need a different counselling.” 

Dhakshinamurthy, Principal of a government school in Puliyur, Kodambakkam, said, “Some teachers find it difficult to control them in class rooms. There are students under the influence of tobacco. A counsellor or psychologist is the need of the hour.” 

An official with the SCERT (State Council Educational Research and Training) said that various shortterm courses are provided for teachers to cope with such situations. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) gives crash courses on handling dyslexic students or slow learners. Even during the floods and cyclone, the students were given sessions to help them come out of any emotional distress. Recently, VITAL (Value Integrated Teaching and Learning) was launched for teachers who underwent short term courses on it, apart from guidance and counselling by members of SCERT. 

However, Head Mistress Shashi Swaran Singh of the Jaigopal Garodia Government Girls School in Virugambakkam which has 2,800 students said, “We have 11 MR (mentally-retarded) students in our schools. Instead of waiting for a permanent counsellor for school, all teachers must become second parents for the students and take care of them with love, commitment and emotional strength.”