COVID-19: School counsellors in Delhi-NCR bombarded with queries from distressed students, parents

With queries ranging from when schools will reopen to how one should safeguard themselves against coronavirus and keep children engaged at home, psychological counsellors employed at several private schools across Delhi-NCR are flooded with distressed calls round the clock from students and parents who are worried about the COVID-19 situation amid a 21-day nationwide lockdown.

The classes at schools were suspended two weeks before the lockdown was announced and exams were postponed. With several teaching and learning activities moving online, many students and parents are worried about the uncertainty as they follow daily news.

According to various school authorities, the counsellors who are providing counselling services either through phone or video conferencing are also doing it from their respective homes and have been asked to not follow any time schedule to ensure maximum queries are answered for students and parents to remain at peace.

"Since the counsellor is also working from home, the students are able to communicate only by phone or on the virtual platforms such as online conferencing and WhatsApp. The most common queries are related to board examinations and results. Parents often call to enquire about commencement of the new academic session and periodic test schedules," Pallavi Upadhyaya, Principal, Delhi Public School, Rajnagar Extension, Ghaziabad told PTI.

"Parents and students also want to know that even if the threat of infection is relatively less when they resume school there will always be fear of the virus returning. So, they are asking us how the school will make provisions for social distancing and how many students will be accommodated per classroom," she added.

Ameeta Mohan, Principal, Amity International School, Pushp Vihar, said, "Parents are being counselled about how to keep the children busy at home. For this purpose, online links for extra reading material are being provided. Parents are being advised about indoor games and activities. Students have been calling with queries related to academics."
According to Priyanka Barara, Principal, Delhi International School, Rohini, "The school counsellor is receiving around 20 queries every day. Interestingly, a lot more are from parents who need advice to keep their children maintain their physical and mental health. Students of the age group 14-17 have queries related to coronavirus worries and confinement. The students who will be appearing in the board exam next year are also anxious about how they will cope with the curriculum."