Students of GPS Tsiepfütsiepfe in Kohima District. (Photo Courtesy_NECTAR Nagaland)
'Nagas’s unique system of dealing with emotions can be integrated into modern practice of counseling '
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 6
The Guidance and Counselling Cell of State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) today expressed its desire to integrate Naga indigenous practice of dealing with emotions into the modern practice of counselling.
Talking to media persons after the induction programme for 5th batch of one year diploma course in School Counselling and release of new syllabus in Kohima, Dr Zavise Rume, Head of School Counselling, Guidance & Counselling Cell, SCERT Nagaland said “We want to do more research study on Naga indigenous practice of dealing with emotions.”
SCERT Nagaland have already conducted research study on atleast 14 tribes and have gathered information about the Naga indigenous practice of dealing with emotions, he said.
“This type of new research findings will be brought to this present course to let our Naga counsellors also be reoriented into the practice of Naga indigenous practice of dealing with emotions,” he said.
In the new syllabus, Dr Rume said that SCERT Nagaland have designed some alternative therapies like Naga indigenous therapies formally or informally, consciously or unconsciously, practiced in Naga society centuries ago.
“We have not been able to bring these types of refined system of Naga indigenous practice of healing into formal system of counselling,” he said and felt the need to bring such type of indigenous practice into the modern practice of counselling.
Traditionally, Nagas have unique system of dealing with emotions, the new syllabus stated, adding that empathy, sympathy and humility are the Naga’s traditional qualities which can be integrated into the modern counselling practice.
Other Naga traditional practices which can be integrated are home-based counselling, peer counselling, frolicking, movement therapy, indigenous sports, whoopee etc, the SCERT stated in its new syllabus.
‘Children experiencing more stress today’
Dr Rume said that need for school counselling has not been felt in the past as the school environment was “very peaceful” then. Moreover, a lot of stress, anxiety and mental tension were handled by parents at home.
That is why the need for school counselling was not felt much some 20- 30 years, ago, he said.
However, the situation is different today as every parent is engaged in one or the other work and they have hardly time for children.
Today, children are experiencing all kinds of mental and emotional problem, he stated.
With the academic competition which is becoming more stiff and tough, children are pressed to work harder and harder. Therefore, today, children are experiencing more stress and anxiety, Dr Rume said.
We need the professional people to handle the emotional and psychological well being of children, he emphasized.
With the coming of the new technology, he said children are addicted to mobile, computer and internet as well as substance abuse in term of alcohol, tobacco and drug wherein children are being left without being given any kind of professional counselling.
He said that the SCERT Nagaland had introduced guidance and counselling during 1982-83.
Since then, he claimed, the department has been promoting career and vocational guidance.
Slowly, SCERT felt the need to cater to the need of emotional, psychological well being and mental health of children in the state, he said.
Thus, he said, SCERT Nagaland has introduced diploma course in School Counselling during 2018, the first SCERT in the whole country to introduce the same.
