BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE– The Ministry of Education and Training also cares about the mental welfare of pupils.
According to the Ministry of Education and Training 2022/2023 Annual Report that was recently released, 506 pupils were provided with free counseling services. There were 765 cases that required counseling across eight natures of cases which are sexual abuse, substance abuse, career counseling, bereavement counseling, trauma, emotional abuse, physical abuse and neglect.
According to the report, Regional Guidance officers continued to attend to reported cases and provided counseling to clients that walk into the office who often times are referred by the school or parents and guardians.
“A total of one hundred and eighty-five (185) such cases were attended to across the four regions during this financial year. The nature of the cases that need counselling range from psychosocial related challenges such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, trauma, substance abuse, career counselling and other behavioural challenges.
“Officers in the Shiselweni region visited Hlatikulu Central High school to attend to a case of suicide and they provided bereavement counseling to a total of five hundred and six (506) learners,” read the report.
The report also expressed that in the meantime, some of these cases were referred to relevant stakeholders such as the police and social welfare department, whilst others were attended to and closed and for others, counseling is ongoing.
