Combating depression: Teachers told to frequently chat with students

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 22

Emphasising the need to closely watch psychological behavior of students of all Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) in its Perspective Academic Planning (PAP) 2014-15 has instructed housemasters to hold frequent interactions with students in order to attend to their problems on a regular basis.

Sources said the initiative was taken to avoid shyness, depression and aloofness in the students, which may cause any sort of unforeseen incidents. The apex body had suggested vidyalayas to conduct proper regular counselling to help the children who were under depression.

“Corporal punishment to students is strictly prohibited. Insulting in public referring to their parentage, caste, community, etc, by teachers will be viewed seriously and necessary action will be initiated against the erring staff,” a NVS statement said.

“Proper counselling should be done either by housemaster or class teacher/Principal in case of any mistake like stealing, telling lies by a student. In case the student is not mending his behaviour, it should be reported to his parents and after giving one or two chances for improvement, necessary action should be taken,” it added.

“Children in JNVs are admitted at the tender age of nine to 13 years, which is a pre-adolescent or adolescent age. The children need counselling and continuous guidance to become physically fit, mentally alert and emotionally balanced,” the sources in JNV said.

“Knowledge of the child psychology will help the teacher in understanding and dealing with children of different abilities, aptitudes and dispositions who come to JNVs from heterogeneous socio-economic background. That is why it is necessary that the problem of students must be listened patiently and politely and solved,” they added.

According to PAP 2014-15, suicidal tendencies may be deep-rooted. Family history plays an important role. It stressed that all housemasters should collect the family history of the child through informal chat with the child/guardian/visitors and keep a record.

It added that generally the suicide incidents take place due to the child being over-protected at home feels badly homesick and gets disturbed. They also happen if a child is unable to bear the fear of failing in exams, fails to come up to the expectations of his parents and suffers extreme humiliation by the fellow students, teachers or principal.

“If any child is noticed disturbed, he should never be left alone. His attention should immediately be diverted to an activity of his choice. Shy, isolated and neglected children should be identified and watched and they should be taken care of properly. Children on account of family disturbance like separations of parents, family, etc, are to be specially attended,” the statement said.