St Joseph University faculty members and dignitaries during the inauguration of the first InSPA (India School Psychology Association) Centre for North-East Region on February 27.
CHÜMOUKEDIMA, FEBRUARY 27 (MExN): St Joseph University (SJU) inaugurated the first InSPA (India School Psychology Association) Centre for the North-East Region on February 27. The event took place at the university, in the presence of several dignitaries, including Prof Panch Ramalingam, National President of InSPA; Prof Zavise Rume, President of the All Nagaland Counsellors' Association; and Dr D. Gnanadurai, Vice-Chancellor of St Joseph University. The event also saw the presence of faculty members and students from the university’s Department of Psychology and Counselling.
InSPA is a non-profit educational service society that aims to support and advocate for school psychologists, providing professional training to improve academic skills, social-emotional functioning, and the mental well-being of students. The establishment of the centre is intended to serve as a resource for mental health and counselling services in the region.
In his remarks, Dr D. Gnanadurai expressed support for the initiative and praised the department's efforts in advancing school psychology in the region.
Prof Zavise Rume, in his keynote address, spoke about the growing need for mental health support in schools. He highlighted the stress and anxiety experienced by students today, noting that while parents and society are aware of these issues, there is a lack of professional training to address them. He emphasized the importance of integrating psychology into the school curriculum and treating counselling as an essential component of education. Prof. Rume also encouraged the students of SJU to make full use of the new centre and to advocate for the creation of more centres in Nagaland.
Prof Panch Ramalingam, National President of InSPA, provided an overview of the organization's history. He noted that the first five years of InSPA’s existence were focused on raising awareness and enrolling members. He also mentioned the organization’s efforts to provide online counselling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prof Ramalingam expressed his hope for the establishment of 1,500 InSPA centres across India, with the St. Joseph University centre being the first in the region. He also highlighted the publication of the book “School Psychology in Indian Context,” which has been translated into multiple regional languages and is being implemented in schools across India.
Dr Watinaro Longkumer, Head of the Department of Psychology and Counselling at SJU, chaired the program.
The official inauguration of the InSPA Centre was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between InSPA and St Joseph University. The centre aims to support the mental and emotional well-being of students in the region and promote the integration of school psychology into educational practices.
