Why Schools Should Prioritize Counselling

(This article was first published on the New Vision website on February 17, 2023)

By Ritah Mukasa

Children need constant counselling and guidance to help them achieve their full potential.

Mesharch Katusiimeh, dean faculty of arts and social sciences at Kabale University and director of Rwebiita preparatory school in Sheema district says, aside from academics, schools should be intentional in talking to learners about the daily life challenges.

He adds that the non-academic issues are normally ignored yet they affect the children directly.

“Majority of the teachers and administrators focus on academics. They forget the personal issues that affect these children,” he says adding that; “These range from spiritual, social, psychosocial, economic and environmental.”

At his school, every week, Katusiimeh spares time to talk to the children mostly those that are troubled. He says many children are psychologically tortured.

“We first identify those that need help and listen to them before counselling and finding solutions to their problems. This strategy has saved many children,” he explains.

He adds that the school has steadily progressed in performance and enrollment.   

Relatedly, Josephine Zhane Omunyidde, founder of Engender Girls’ Mentorship (EGM) says that children need support to put their life in a clear perspective.

She says, while growing up, many children mostly girls do not have opportunities to vision their lives as early as possible.

“We constantly take them through different sessions of what they anticipate to be in life; spiritually, socially and professionally,” she says.

“We also listen to their fears and counsel them on how to navigate through life challenges,” she adds.

According to UNICEF, many children drop out of school or are absent from class for several reasons. Among poor families, the cost of school uniforms, books, stationery, and saving funds becomes too much to bear, pushing children out of school or leading families into debt.

Illness and domestic work also keeps many children from attending school on a regular basis. Children with disabilities, orphans and other disadvantaged children are especially at risk of school exclusion. In addition, the school environment and teachers have a great impact on students’ achievement.

UNICEF also indicates that violence against children is commonplace in Ugandan schools, including caning and other forms of outlawed corporal punishment. Besides, many children report being abused by a teacher or bullied in school.