Excelsior Correspondent
GANDERBAL, May 18: School of Education and Directorate of Students Welfare (DSW), Central University of Kashmir (CUK), in collaboration with Indian School Psychology Association (ISPA), kick-started a three-day online workshop on “Mental Health, Life skills and Adjustment,” for Secondary School Teachers of Kashmir on Monday.
Addressing the participants, CUK Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mehraj ud Din Mir said the lockdown due to pandemic has thrown huge challenges to all the sectors including the education. “It has become imperative for educational institutions to continue with their academic activities, including holding of classes, through online mode, so that precious time of the students and scholars is saved,” he said.
He dwelt at length about the need, importance and relevance of the selected theme of the workshop, keeping in view the problems confronted by the education sector due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Prof. Mir remarked that such workshops will go a long way in addressing the social and psychological needs of the student community.
Controller of Examinations, Prof Parveen Pandit, Deans of Schools, faculty members of departments and secondary school teachers of Kashmir also participated in the event.
In his special address, President, INSPA, Prof Panch Ramalingam, observed that a large number of Government schools need to be served with well qualified Counsellors who can accommodate the psychological needs of school-going children and adolescents. He said that 150 million children are staying at home during the lockdown and it is a huge challenge for the concerned stakeholders about how to fulfill their scholastic and non-scholastic needs and aspirations.
Former, Dean, SOE, Prof N A Nadeem suggested that several mental health institutions should be established across the length and breadth of the country.
Organizing Secretary, Prof Farooq Ahmad Shah, and Co-organizing Secretary, Dr Syed Zahoor Geelani, said that the workshop was organized as a response against the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation. Workshop Convener, Prof Nighat Basu highlighted that the adolescents are in a certain kind of trauma and, it is the duty of concerned stakeholders to address the issue on priority. Registrar, Prof Fayaz Ahmad Nika stressed the importance of exercise, meditation, proper diet, positive thinking etc in fighting the ill effects of the current situation. The inaugural session was conducted by Dr Mohammad Syed Bhat while as Reyaz Ahmad Wani was the rapporteur.
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