PANAJI: Close on the heels of a 15-year-old student ending his life on Tuesday over a petty issue with parents over a cell phone at Bicholim, the State Directorate of Education, shaken by the unfortunate incident, has decided to conduct awareness sessions for parents as well as teachers on use of cyber content by students.
Speaking to The Goan Everyday, Education Director Gajanan Bhat said, "The State Government has already appointed counsellors to address various problems that students face. Through the same counsellors we will hold counselling sessions for parents as well as teachers on the usage of cyber content by students."
The DoE is also in the process of appointing additional 50 counsellors following requests by various schools.
"As the number of schools is more and has less counsellors, we have been receiving requests from various schools for allocating additional counsellors. Schools have been conveying that the sessions being conducted are not enough. We have already started with the process of recruitment and within the next fortnight they will be appointed," informed Bhat.
He also stated that the DoE has issued guidelines earlier over the usage of mobile phones in school premises during school hours.
"We do not allow students to use mobile phones during school hours. But, now we will also ask the parents to monitor where and when their children are using electronic gadgets like mobile phones. If not necessary, parents too should avoid giving their children gadgets like mobile phones", he said.
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IN RIGHT DIRECTION
* Counsellors appointed to address various problems that students face
* Same counsellors will hold sessions for parents as well as teachers
* DoE is also in the process of appointing additional 50 counsellors
* Recruitment process has begun and appointments in a couple of weeks
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We do not allow students to use mobile phones during school hours. But, now we will also ask the parents to monitor where and when their children are using electronic gadgets like mobile phones.
Gajanan Bhat,
Education Director
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