By Njide Ezeonyejiaku
As part of the implementation of the human capital and social agenda policy of the Soludo’s administration in Anambra State, the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Awka in collaboration with the Counselling Association of Nigeria, CASSON has inaugurated Counsellors, Para-councillors and Integrity Club in the State primary schools.
The event held at ASUBEB headquarters, Awka attracted critical stakeholders, including the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the National President of CASSON, Prof. Ike Ifelunni, some members of the State House of Assembly, ASUBEB Board Members and Ex-officios, Zonal Directors and Zonal Counsellors, Headteachers, Counsellors and learners in the basic education level.
Declaring the event open, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh noted that the basic education sector is where the future of a child is laid, pointing out that the training of every child requires the collective contributions of the parents, and the teachers.
Prof. Chuma-Udeh stressed that Guidance Counsellors are specifically responsible for redirecting erring consciousness, calling on Counsellors and Para-councillors to show love and empathy in guiding the learners.
The Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Ejike Okechukwu, who is the Member Representing Anaocha II Constituency in the State House of Assembly, in an opening remark observed that challenges in schooling starts at the basic level and maintained that Counsellors, Para-councillors and the Integrity Club have much role to play in redirecting learners with one issue or the other, expressing optimism that significant changes will be seen in the the character development of learners at the basic education level if the Counsellors will add love to balance the stick in child formation.
Presenting her address of welcome the ASUBEB Chairman, Dr. Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi said that guidance counselling at the basic school level is critical in tackling behaviour and academic maladjustments among learners from the earliest stages of their development.
Dr. Nwadinobi noted that the dearth of professionally trained Counsellors in primary schools necessitated the selection of Para-councillors among the teaching staff to address the behavioural needs of the learners.
“One of the major roles of counselling is to provide valid and stable information to clients in order to make informed decisions about their lives. Para-councillors provide complementary roles to professional counsellors in the provision of guidance services to learners”, she stressed.
On the need for the formation of Integrity Clubs in the State primary schools, the ASUBEB boss explained that integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is watching, and doing what you said you will do, including being accountable, taking responsibility for your actions, all of which are embodied in positive value system. She urged the members of the Integrity Club to help in identifying and solving integrity problems in the school environment by promoting the right attitudes, morals and values that promote ethical behaviour and enlist peer support in the war against corruption, among others.
Continuing, Dr. Nwadinobi stated that the Inauguration of counselling practice and Integrity Club in primary schools by ASUBEB and CASSON was a way of creating awareness and responsiveness to the prevailing societal vices and to empower children to advocate for good governance from a very young age.
Inaugurating the Counsellors, Para-councillors and Integrity Club, from the 1070 primary schools in Anambra State, the National President of CASSON, Prof Ike Ifelunni, represented by the Anambra State Chapter Chairperson, Dr. Ndidi Okeke charged them to discharge their duties with integrity and compassion.
In their goodwill messages, the Member, representing Orumba South Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Engr. Emma Nwafor; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Ifeoma Agbaizu; the State Chairperson of CASSON, Dr. Ndidi Okeke; the Board Secretary, Lady Loveline Mgbemena, and the Director, Academic Services, Mrs Christy Chukwuma commended the ASUBEB Chairman, Dr. Nwadinobi for her foresight in recognising the need for human development counselling at the elementary schools by inaugurating counselling practice and forming Integrity Club in the State basic schools.
The event featured paper presentations by seasoned Counsellors, such as Mrs Felicia Ezeukwu who spoke on “the Roles of Guidance Counsellors”; Mrs Benedeth Duaka who spoke on “Maladaptive Behaviours in Children”; and Mrs Eucharia Ilika who spoke on “Guidance & Counselling Services in the Primary School”.
Presentation of assistive learning materials to visually and hearing impaired learners; commissioning of the Anambra Digital Teachers for Soludo, ADTS, by the House Committee Chairman on Education, Hon. Anayo Okpaleke, Representing Aguata I Constituency in the State House of Assembly; and cultural dance by Capital City Secondary School, Awka also featured.
