1. Do you think that offering counselling is part of a teacher’s role, or is it a specialist role?

Counselling is mainly a specialist role because it requires professional knowledge about psychology and human behaviour. However, if a counsellor is not available, teachers may need to support students by listening and giving basic guidance. Teachers should have some training before doing this because students are young and sensitive, so we must be very careful while dealing with their emotions.

2. Are there any risks involved in offering this support to learners?

Yes, there are risks. If we do not provide counselling properly, it may make the situation worse. For example, if we say the wrong thing or do not fully understand the student’s problem, the student may feel more hurt or misunderstood. Therefore, teachers need to be very careful, patient, and respectful when supporting students.

3. Is this something that your school already provides, or what further support or training would your school need?

In my school, we do not have a full-time counsellor, but we have a volunteer counsellor through online. However, many students prefer face-to-face counselling. Some teachers try to support students as much as they can. In the future, the school should provide basic counselling training for teachers so that we can support students more effectively.