MARGAO
The Goa State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights have recommended that special schools be brought under the Counselling scheme for students by appointing counsellors for children with disabilities and provided with appropriate training.
Commission Chairperson Peter F Borges have called for an Action taken report by 30th January 2023.
In a communique to the Director of Education, the Commission observed there exist several special schools for children with disabilities in the state of Goa.
As per the information provided by the Goa Education Development Corporation which implements the counselling scheme for students, the Commission noted that none of the special schools have counsellor appointed. “In support of students with special needs, the school counselor plays an important role of advocacy to help them achieve and succeed on a level comparative to other students. They play an important role to raise awareness among teachers and staff so they understand students' disabilities and can better educate them. The counsellor can also participate in the identification of students with special needs in collaboration with teachers”, Chairperson Borges stated.
He added: “Caring for a special child is a doubly difficult situation, involving physical, financial, and emotional stress. The stigma associated with disabilities also increases the family’s sense of isolation. Hence, counsellor’s service in school setting can address the chronic strain of parents as the childcare can cause relatively enduring problems in their day to day lives”.
Given that children with different disabilities also face high risk of sexual violence and abuse, he said having a counsellor is extremely necessary. “Those with physical disabilities may find it more difficult to escape from violent and abuse situations due to limited mobility. Those who are visually or hearing impaired may not be able to call for help or easily communicate abuse or may be more vulnerable to attacks simply due to the lack of ability to hear their surroundings. With evolving needs and NEP 2020, inclusivity and psychological services need to be given attention and seen as a right to protection of children with disabilities in schools”, he added, while recommending that special schools be brought under the Counselling scheme for students by appointing counsellors for children with disabilities.
