Counseling and psychology should be in school curriculum: PM

Counseling and psychology should be included in the school curriculum, and a plan should be developed to recruit teachers for this purpose, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said.   

She made this comment while participating in a discussion on the current progress of a programme aimed at preparing a national policy on counseling and psychology to support the mental health of school students.   
“These programmes should be implemented in all schools through a formal plan covering all provinces of the island,” Dr. Amarasuriya said. She also highlighted vacancies of Provincial Psychosocial Resource Centre Managers, the need to improve facilities at these centres, and the importance of positive discipline management methods in education. The Prime Minister suggested exploring whether greater productivity could be achieved by integrating problem-solving, substance abuse prevention, and child protection services in one place.   
Officials informed the Prime Minister that a national policy against child violence is being prepared in consultation with teachers, teacher advisors, and subject directors, in line with international standards. The pilot programme, currently covering 50 schools — 10 from each province, has reportedly been successful, with students responding positively to the classrooms established under the initiative.