IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING COUNSELLING SKILLS TO TEACHERS

The intent of this paper is not to equip teachers with the background or the skills to act as the school counsellor or psychologist but, to make everyone aware that in India only a limited number of schools have counsellors. The knowledge of counselling skills is essential for teachers to promote student learning and well-being. Teachers can play a key role in resolving student issues and concerns. The classroom teacher spends more time with students than any other professional in the school and is thus most likely to influence students. They are the ones, after all, who interact with children on a daily basis. If a child is going to approach an adult for assistance or advice, it will probably be the teacher whom he/she has come to trust over many hours of work and play together. The major skills of Counselling that can be included are competence, acceptance and flexibility, integrity, sensitivity, listening, empathy, confidentiality and understanding.