In a bid to improve the mental and academic welfare of students, Delhi government schools have initiated an extensive Summer Counselling programme exclusively for students of classes X and XII. The programme, led by Educational and Vocational Guidance Counsellors (EVGCs), kicked off on May 14 and will run till May 31, providing essential assistance during summer vacation when school activities are temporarily suspended.

The main purpose of this program is to give ongoing academic and emotional support to students beyond the regular school calendar. Acknowledging that the summer vacation period can sometimes prove to be problematic for most students, the Education Department has made concerted efforts to ensure that students do not end up feeling alone or unsupported during this period. The counselling sessions are intended to assist students in working through a variety of issues such as academic issues, career counselling, emotional distress, bullying, and drug abuse—issues that can have serious effects on a young person’s mental well-being and academic achievement.

A circular from the Education Department explained the aims of the Summer Counselling program. It underlined that the program is part of a larger strategy to have sustained psychological and academic counselling for students. The Education Department hopes that the effects of counselling are not only limited to the school year itself but carry over into holiday periods when students will be confronted with various pressures and uncertainties.

The counseling program will be undertaken by the EVGCs who are specially designed to guide students academically as well as personally. The counsellors will interact intensively with students to establish their unique needs and offer personalized guidance and support. Whether a student is anxious about exams, unsure about possible career options, or facing personal issues like bullying or stress, the counsellors are trained to give sympathetic and effective guidance.

A key feature of the programme is its organized record-keeping and accountability. Counsellors have to document every counselling session thoroughly. The records need to contain key information such as the student’s identification, class, the type of issue discussed during the counselling, any academic or career advice offered, and the involvement of the student’s parents in the counselling. Such thorough documentation provides openness and allows for tracking of programme effectiveness.

Principals of schools have a significant role to play in managing the initiative. Principals are responsible for making records of counselling data at the school level and submitting these records to their corresponding District Counsellor-in-Charges (CICs). The CICs will then compile reports from several schools and submit them to the Educational and Vocational Guidance Bureau (EVGB). This hierarchical framework of data management provides space for orderly stream of information, making it easier for authorities to scan trends, determine areas of commonality, and take well-informed decisions to enhance ensuing counselling programs.

The circular also touched on logistical aspects of the engagement of EVGCs during the summer vacation. It instructed the Heads of Schools to give counsellors who report to duty during vacation time ‘Earned Leave’ as per the Central Civil Services Leave Rules. This was to recognize the extra effort made by counsellors working above and beyond their standard duties. Additionally, guest EVGCs in the programme shall be remunerated as per the prevailing compensation policies. These steps are meant to encourage the counsellors and facilitate proper implementation of the scheme.

Educators and mental health specialists have welcomed the introduction of the Summer Counselling scheme, terming it as a means of bridging an important gap in student counseling services. Summer is also the season when students are the most vulnerable, particularly those just about to undergo the major scholastic changes that take the form of the board exams for classes X and XII. The Education Department’s provision of exclusive counselling during these months hopes to ease the anxiety, instil resilience, and create a more positive school climate.

The program also represents an increasing awareness on the part of education officials of the necessity to attend to students’ emotional and psychological welfare as well as to their academic progress. The emphasis on career guidance as a central element recognizes the stress students experience in determining major choices for their lives. Giving professional advice in terms of subject selection and career paths at vacation time can ensure that students make well-educated choices, eliminating uncertainty and enhancing self-esteem.

In short, the Summer Counselling program of the Delhi government is a significant step in the process of ensuring student well-being on a holistic level. Through a synthesis of academic, psychological, and vocational counseling at a time when students normally have little opportunity to avail themselves of these services, the program is designed to develop an enabling environment that empowers young learners. With formal counselling sessions, meticulous recording, and cooperative monitoring, the program aims not only to answer immediate questions but to lay a foundation for long-term academic achievement and mental well-being.

With the program operating throughout the rest of May, all stakeholders such as counsellors, school officials, students, and parents are urged to actively participate in the initiative. Success could be replicated by other programs in other regions, ultimately helping to create a more empathetic and responsive education system focused on the overall development of each and every student.