Only 3% Delhi-NCR Schools Maintains a Counselor, Failing to Meet CBSE Norm: ASSOCHAM Report

A majority of private schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) have allegedly been infringing the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) guidelines of having compulsory provision for full-time student counselor, reveals the latest survey by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

“It violates CBSE guidelines on mandatory provision for a full-time student counsellor”

As per the report, only 3 % of around 3,200 Delhi NCR - private schools, who also charge exorbitant fee from students, have appointed counsellors to help students handle the exam stress and also to provide career guidance to those who are confused.

in agreement with the findings of the survey, that most schools lack trained counsellors, Abdul Mabood, the founder-director of non-government organisation ‘Snehi’ that runs a student helpline since 1996 — told that his organization received almost 3,000 distress calls from students in 2013. The 65 % of the calls were from around the Capital. In 24 cases, the students indicated suicidal tendencies, he added.

The survey stressed on the fact that most students are clueless upon what to do when they end Class XII, hence, stress management is an area all schools must focus on having.
ASSOCHAM Secretary General, D.S. Rawat told that counsellors are essential in identifying children who need attention the most and accordingly they help them as well as their guardian.

Assocham Health Committee chairman B.K. Rao also said that the most widespread problem in school students at present is to handle scholastic performance pressure, lack of interpersonal communication, nuclear families and failure in relationships and the absence of intervention through counselling at the right time is letting the problems untreated.

Senior psychiatrist Jitendra Nagpal highlighted the acute need for efficient and trained counsellors, and special educators to successfully deal with the children’s problems.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research, 12 to 13 per cent of students undergo emotional, behavioural and learning problems.  Therefore, the counseling process has to be set up early for detection and intervention in time.

Department of counselling in all schools may help the problem to large extent. She added that to have only one counselor is sheer eyewash. She suggested that every 2 months a workshop should be conducted for both teachers and parents in this regard.