KOHIMA, OCTOBER 12: With the primary objective to provide quality professional counselling services to the people of state especially to the students, adolescents and youth, the All Nagaland Counsellors Association (ANCA) was formed on October 12, 2013.
Celebrating its 3rd anniversary today at Christ King School, Kohima Village with Additional Director SCERT, T Sekhose, as the guest of honour, members of the association have reiterated on the importance of the mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of a child.
Speaking on the occasion, Sekhose said the ANCA has been seriously considering on the need of counsellor, and in this regard, he informed that SCERT is preparing to appoint two counsellors in every school for the benefits of school if the government approves.
Stating that in today’s context with everything moving rapidly and in high competitive spirit, Sekhose underlined on the importance of counselling whereby without proper mental and emotional guidance, the immense pressure and influences has the tendencies to lead to wrong direction.
Congratulating the association for initiating a noble undertaking, Sekhose has advised them to be careful and sensitive as they are dealing with the mental and psychological aspects of the people especially the students. He urged them to work together, and stated on the need for this kinds of programme for students in all schools.
Delivering the keynote address, ANCA president, Dr Zavise Rume said counselling today is universally recognised as a highly skilled profession practised by highly skilled persons trained by highly renowned counsellors at a high level of training.
Giving a brief history on the formation of the association, Rume said its objective is to provide a platform as a voluntary professional organisation for professional counsellors working in Nagaland, and for healthy interaction and encourage one another to provide counselling service.
The association he said endeavours to explore and share resources among the counsellors while upholding the profession and safeguarding the interest of the counsellors working in Nagaland, and to promote and practice professional code of ethics for counsellors.
Stating that school counselling is an emerging area of interest for educationists, teacher educators and educational psychologists, the ANCA demanded the state government to frame a clear-cut state policy on counselling particularly school counselling.
It has also asked the state government to immediately create/establish a state board of guidance and counselling services to formulate policies related to recruitment, accreditation and licensing of counsellors working in different departments.
ANCA has also put forth for creation and appointment of atleast one counsellor for every school and that atleast one male and one female teacher from every school should be trained in accordance with the provision of RMSA project.
It has also reminded the government to appoint only trained counselling professionals to any position of a counsellor both in private and government sector.
While demanding to make guidance and counselling as an integral part of school curriculum, the Association has also asked to create a separate bureau of guidance and counselling in the department of school education, SCERT, NSACS, higher education, technical education directorate with proper infrastructure facilities for counselling services.
Stating that there is a need to focus on physiological, emotional and psychological aspects of the students rather than a normal routine exercise, ANCA has recommended for creation of counselling cell in NBSE, Kohima to handle the mental and emotional well being of students related to examination like fear psychosis, tension, anxieties so as to enhance the level of academic performances.
Meanwhile the Association has elected its new team of office bearers led by Fr C Joseph as the president, Amenla Mollier as the vice president, Ikali Chophy as the general secretary, Nouzhieno Peseyie as the treasurer and Keneingunuo Vizo as the information and publicity secretary.
Dr Zavise Rume and Dr George Rino were elected as advisors while Rokuonuo Yanthan, Bokatoli and Aoyanger were elected as executive members.
