Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan: Counsellor and Wellness Teacher in Schools

The Framework for Implementation of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) recognizes the role of guidance and counselling services in promoting student retention and better scholastic performance in curricular areas, facilitating adjustment and career development of students, developing right attitude towards studies, self, work and others. The Framework provides that every school should have at least one teacher and preferably two teachers (one male and one female) trained in guidance and counselling. The in-service training of teachers, which has a module on counselling has been imparted under RMSA to 3,87,777 teachers during 2014-15 and 2015-16.

There are 591 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs). Instructions have been issued to all JNVs to engage Counselors on need basis. Further, House Masters are trained to counsel the students. Every year, teachers are deputed for diploma course in guidance and counseling conducted by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)/ Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs). Till 2015-16, 210 teachers of JNVs have been deputed for the diploma course.

While it is not mandatory to have a counselor/health wellness teacher in every school of the country, the affiliation Bye-Laws of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) provide that every secondary and senior secondary school should appoint a person on full time basis for performing the duties of a Counselor/Health Wellness Teacher. Schools having enrolment of less than 300 students in class IX to XII can appoint a Health Wellness Teacher on part time basis.

This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani today in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question.