DSEJ releases calendar for student counselling, psychosocial support

JAMMU : To ensure the emotional well-being, child protection and career development of students, the Directorate of School Education Jammu has issued a counselling calendar for the new academic session 2023-24.

The calendar prepared by the Counselling Cell of DSEJ follows the guidelines of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It also aligns with the School Health Programme and Manodarpan, a Ministry of Education initiative. These initiatives aim to ensure the physical and mental health of students. They also focus on child protection, value education and career development.

The calendar features month-wise well-being themes such as adolescent education, life skills, emotional well-being, value education, child protection, substance abuse, career guidance and examination stress management. Teacher counsellors will use joyful and interactive methods to teach these themes. The calendar also includes significant days and national helplines for psychosocial support.

Director School Education Jammu, Dr Ravi Shankar Sharma has directed all Chief Education Officers and School Complex Heads to instruct heads of schools from elementary to senior secondary level to implement the calendar. In addition, the Counselling Task Force consisting of District and Zonal Counselling Coordinators has been instructed to oversee its implementation on the ground.

“Addressing the mental health and psychosocial needs of children can lead to a decrease in psychosocial issues impacting children such as drug abuse, bullying, juvenile delinquency, truancy and dropout,” opined Dr Romesh Kumar, Head of the Counselling Cell at the Directorate of School Education Jammu.