Kerala child rights panel calls for school counsellor guidelines
Kerala’s child rights commission has asked the General Education and Women and Child Development departments to jointly prepare guidelines for school counsellors. The recommendation followed a training programme in Kozhikode attended by nearly 200 psychosocial counsellors from Kozhikode and Wayanad.
The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has called for formal guidelines governing the functioning of school counsellors in the State. The commission said the General Education and Women and Child Development departments should work together to take steps towards issuing the guidelines. The directive followed a demand raised by school counsellors during a one-day training programme organised by the commission in Kozhikode.
Nearly 200 psychosocial counsellors from Kozhikode and Wayanad attended the programme. Commission member B. Mohankumar inaugurated the session, while commission member Shajesh Bhaskar P.
presided. Acting chairperson Cicily Joseph presented the topic at the training programme. Clinical psychologists Raseena Kidangel and Raheemuddin P.K.
conducted classes for the participants. The sessions addressed ways of responding to mental, emotional and cyber-related problems faced by children. The commission did not provide details of the proposed guidelines, including whether they would cover qualifications, reporting procedures, referral systems or staffing.
The recommendation places responsibility on two State departments to jointly develop the framework for school counselling. The commission’s direction came in response to counsellors’ demand during the Kozhikode programme, rather than from a reported Cabinet or departmental decision. The training brought together counsellors working with children in two northern Kerala districts.
It focused on challenges affecting children and on methods for addressing psychological, emotional and online problems. The commission has not announced a deadline for the departments to issue the guidelines. The source material also does not say whether a draft has been prepared or identify any next stage after the training programme.
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