The reintegration of students back into classrooms next month will have psychological, physical, social and emotional effects on them.
This, according to renowned psychotherapist Selina Kuruleca.
She said students would be affected as they had been at home for the longest period since starting formal education.
Ms Kuruleca said having 100 per cent exams would also affect them as it may be too much for them, given that not all students had the same access to gadgets or had been in a conducive learning environment.
While teachers were preparing for the start of school for Year 12 and Year 13 students, she recommended having clear rules and expectations.
“Give all staff and students a few days to adjust, have class talanoa sessions over several days, don’t worry about schoolwork yet, get them to talk in a supportive, professionally facilitated classroom environment about some of their experiences, no judgment, no shaming, just acknowledging each individual experience, setting a plan and moving with that plan,” she said.
“As parents, we must also do our bit in ensuring that our children have completed the HSP and talk to them about the importance of respect, communication, the rules around COVID safety and helping others, of not bullying and others.”
She said the Education Ministry should sub-contract some of the counseling to other non-profit organisations who could assist in the early days of school reopening.
“I acknowledge MEHA and its many partners — UNICEF, SAAC, the facility, in working very hard to facilitate this need for counsellors in school, so I encourage them to continue to do so and even look at subcontracting out some of the counselling to other NGOs who can all assist in the early days of school reopening.
“They can work as the first assessment or support and refer to the regular or in-house MEHA counsellor when they leave the school, the regular school or MEHA counsellor then takes over and continues to provide the ongoing support that the students need.”
