SCERT Nagaland unveils new indigenous counselling curriculum

KOHIMA — A new curriculum on indigenous counselling and integrated alternative therapies was unveiled at the State Institute of Educational Management and Training (SIEMAT) SCERT in Kohima on Wednesday.

This innovative curriculum, based on Naga indigenous approaches, will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive one-year diploma programme in school counselling, it was informed.

Dr. Zavise Rume, professor of Guidance and Counselling Psychology Cell at SCERT, informed that the syllabus has been expanded to include new subjects such as adolescence education programmes and alternative therapies, along with indigenous-based counselling approaches.

Trainees will undergo a sponsored one-year diploma programme by Samagra Shiksha, during which they will engage in activities such as examinations, entertainment and school visits, among others.

Rume highlighted a research study enriching indigenous counselling practices employed in developing the syllabus, which include face-to-face sessions, school counselling practices and internships in collaboration with renowned institutes.

He also expressed gratitude to St. Joseph’s University, Chümoukedima, and the All Nagaland Counsellors’ Association for their co-operation in developing the syllabus.

Interacting with the media after the event, Rume emphasised the significance of promoting guidance and counselling within Nagaland’s educational system, tracing its origins to the early 1980s when the focus was primarily on career and vocational guidance, gradually expanding to encompass emotional and psychological support.

The professor identified contemporary elements including academic competition, technological advancement and substance abuse among students, underscoring the need for counselling intervention.

The one-year diploma in school counselling, introduced in 2018, aims to address these challenges by integrating indigenous counselling practices and alternative therapies to enhance emotional well-being, he said.

In alignment with government policies to appoint one male and one female counsellor in every government school, he stated that this initiative would create job opportunities while providing essential support for students.

When asked about suicide cases among students, Rume acknowledged the occurrence of such cases, linking it to insufficient counselling and personal attention, emphasising the need for interventions to prevent further tragedies.

Personalised counselling interventions are necessary to effectively address students’ mental and emotional needs, surpassing traditional lecture-based approaches, he added.

He clarified that such services primarily target adolescents but could benefit younger children as well. The course is not specialised for counselling children aged three to six years or students with physical disabilities but is considered integral for all ‘normal’ students, irrespective of age or grade level.

Stating that highly trained counsellors, including those trained domestically and internationally, will guide trainees during the diploma course, he said 15 teachers have registered out of the available 50 seats, as of now.

The programme is reserved for government teachers, but if the seats remain unfilled, they may consider inviting private school teachers to participate in the training, he said.

Earlier in the programme, Kevirale-ü Kerhuo, Director of SCERT, formally released the curriculum, highlighting that the school counselling programme was inaugurated in 2018, making SCERT Nagaland the pioneering SCERT in India to introduce it.

The duration of the course was extended to one year through state cabinet approval in 2023, focusing on the development of knowledge, acquisition of skills, and cultivation of the right attitude required for effective counselling, she said.

Three main objectives — development of knowledge, acquisition of skills and cultivation of the right attitude required for effective counselling – will be prioritised in the training, she added.