Education manual to boost holistic growth of Indian school students

Muscat: The Board of Directors, Indian Schools in Oman, have launched a counselling and special education manual, which deals with the roles and responsibilities of counsellors and special educators in the holistic development of students in Indian Schools.
The Chairman of the Board, Dr. Baby Sam Saamuel, presented the first copy of the manual to P. Prabhakaran, Principal, Indian School Al Maabela. The inauguration took place at a special launch event attended by the board members, presidents of School Management Committees and principals of various schools.
The manual is founded on the concept of holistic education, which underscores the necessity for all-round development of a child – academic, physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological. Academic competence comes not just from the grasp of subjects but from the application of knowledge in social and societal settings. This is in line with the continued pursuit and vision of the Board of Directors in bringing about transformative learning where every child is equipped with the knowledge, skills and well-being to find his/her identity and purpose in life. The manual follows the Indian and international laws pertaining to the counselling and special education function. It outlines the best practices related to all the aspects of the functioning of a counsellor and special educator. The document touches upon the operational procedures, the need for continual training, the relationship of counsellors and special educators with their student/counsellee and other stakeholders etc.
It also sheds light on the administerial aspects such as job description, recruitment criteria, day- to-day functioning, infrastructural requirements, and reporting and referral procedures.
The manual also features all the standardised forms to be used in the counselling and special education functions such as documentation, referral forms, in-take interview forms, feedback forms, identification checklists and a list of service referral resources.
A provision for periodic revision is also featured in it.
“This Counselling & Special Education Manual is moulded from our firm faith in the need for a strong, streamlined support system for our students, consisting of clinical psychologists, student counsellors and special educators. We hope that these guidelines would act as a framework to explore and establish the very many ways in which our schools and our resources can support the emotional health of our children”, said Saamuel.
In today’s times when children face unique and diverse challenges, both personally and developmentally, which often affect their academics and future life, there is a dire need for counsellors who can bring about a positive transformation that will enrich the society. In addition to the fundamental roles of counsellors as advisors and guides who support the emotional, physical and psychological health of students across diverse areas from academics to career counselling, from bullying to grief, from family problems, to online abuse and even self-harm, their roles can be further enhanced. Special educators on the other hand are the key to integrating SEN children into mainstream education, as Indian schools inch closer to inclusion. A very important aspect is their role in the enhancement and promotion of inclusive education – creating awareness, identifying and assisting children who need care, guiding and training teachers and parents.