The appeal comes in the wake of government announcing the decision to train primary schoolteachers in counselling students against drug abuse
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 10: Congress on Saturday demanded the creation of designated posts for trained psychologists in schools, cautioning that the state government’s plan to train primary school teachers in counselling would only burden already overworked educators with a specialised responsibility they are ill-equipped to handle.
Referring to the recent announcement to train primary school teachers in counselling students to tackle the rising menace of drug abuse, MPCC Secretary Manuel Badwar said, “While the intent to address this critical issue is commendable, the execution raises several troubling concerns not just about the efficacy of such a move, but also about fairness and the systematic devaluation of trained psychology professionals.”
He emphasised that drug abuse counselling is a highly specialised intervention. It demands not only academic understanding but also the emotional intelligence, clinical training, and ethical grounding that come from years of rigorous study and supervised practice.
“Psychology students, particularly those pursuing postgraduate degrees, undergo intensive training in human behaviour, psychopathology, counselling techniques, and therapeutic models. Many spend years honing their skills through internships, research, and clinical postings. To suggest that a crash course or short-term training can equip primary school teachers with the same capacity to handle such complex and sensitive issues is, frankly, a disservice to both students and potential patients,” he said.
Raising concerns over professional devaluation and unemployment, he said, “This move comes at a time when unemployment among educated youth in the state of Meghalaya is soaring. Hundreds, if not thousands, of young individuals possess master’s degrees in psychology, clinical psychology, or counselling, eagerly waiting for job opportunities that allow them to serve society while applying their expertise.”
“By bypassing them in favour of already-employed primary teachers, who are often overworked and under-resourced, the state not only shuts doors for these trained professionals but also sends a disheartening message: that their years of education and sacrifice are dispensable,” he added.
Maintaining that the policy raises logistical and ethical questions, Badwar said, “How will these teachers be trained—through a crash course lasting a few days or weeks? What will be the depth of their understanding of substance abuse, trauma-informed care, co-occurring disorders, and relapse prevention? How will they manage this added responsibility along with their teaching workload?”
“The pressure to perform multiple roles often leads to burnout and compromises the quality of care—something that could have devastating consequences when dealing with at-risk youth,” the Congress leader pointed out.
He cautioned against normalising the idea that anyone could be a counsellor, saying, “This also risks normalising the idea that anyone can be a counsellor, undermining the professionalism of mental health services. Counselling is not a soft skill or an optional add-on. It is a science and an art, grounded in ethics, evidence-based techniques, and a deep understanding of the human psyche. To assign such a responsibility to untrained personnel, no matter how well-intentioned, could cause more harm than good.”
“What we need instead is a robust policy that recognises and integrates the capabilities of trained psychology graduates. Rather than reallocating duties to already-burdened school staff, the government could consider creating dedicated counselling positions in schools and social welfare departments. This would not only ensure the quality of intervention but also provide meaningful employment to a growing number of qualified professionals,” he suggested.