THE following is a quote from the ministry: “All teachers are to be given full teaching load in their respective subject areas. All teachers are expected to have some basic knowledge of counselling …”
This decree opens up serious questions. Just where will all teachers get “a basic knowledge of counselling”?
And just when will they be able to use that knowledge, since they are to have a “full teaching load”?
A basic knowledge of counselling is of no use without an empathetic personality and about 40 hours of skill training: “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”.
In the past some secondary schools have had full-time counsellors, and they actually needed to work full-time. Surely the district counsellors cannot handle that load for all the secondary schools in the district: a counselling session lasts 40-50 minutes, meaning a maximum of about 8-10 students can be dealt with in a day by one person.
With changes in disciplinary procedures and growing urban problems for families, the number of students needing help is escalating.
Fergus Garrett
