Students of Mt. Carmel School, Longleng attending a programme held in their school. The SCERT Nagaland has introduced a diploma course in school counseling with the aim to train more school counselors in the state. (Morung Photo File Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 3
The State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) Nagaland has introduced a diploma course in school counseling. The primary objective of this diploma course, introduced last year, is to train at least one male and one female school teacher in theory and practice of school counseling.
The need of the course was initially proposed by SCERT and approved by the State Level Committee in 2017.
The present curriculum and syllabus is designed to offer a six-moth diploma course in school counseling.
“This course is designed for school teachers so as to train them in the basic theory and practice of basic counseling skills with the objective to enable them to act as school counselors in Nagaland,” stated SCERT Director T. Sekhose in a publication put out by the council.
In due course of time, the duration of the same course may be extended to two years so as to fulfill the norms for Diploma in Teacher Education Programme set by the National Council for Teacher Education.
The booklet stated that school counseling is a comprehensive counseling programme designed for normal children in the school rather than a special service for problematic children, with an aim to enhance overall academic performance and all round personality development of a child.
School counseling is a critical support for elementary and secondary school learning and student’s health concerns.
It added that school counseling is a continuous process of catering to the needs of mental and emotional well being of a child.
“It is not a mere few minutes counseling sessions. For a healthy total growth and development, every child must essentially receive counseling service from the moment he/she joins the school,” it stated adding that in a school setting, counseling service should be educational and educative.
In this context, the focus of school counseling is for development and adjustment rather than treating severe psychological or mental disorders.
Children in the school should not be subjected to too many psychological testing unless unavoidable, it stated, adding “Rather, a school counselor should develop a professional competence to diagnose the problems faced by children without too much resorting to using testing tools. If there is any severe mental illness found, a school counselor refers the case to counselors or professionals specialized in the area of problem.”
SCERT stated that the major components covered under school counseling are: personal—social competencies, academic development and career development.
“School counselors should have a strong academic foundation in education and educational psychology. Healthy attitude, good knowledge in education, counseling psychology and skills of counseling are the pre-requisite qualification for school counselors,” It added.
