TEACHTALK DAILY

Do schools really need a counsellor, or is this another way to extort money from them? As an educational consultant, I often tell school owners and administrators this simple truth: the moment your school begins to deal with human behaviour, emotions, choices, and future planning, you already need a guidance counsellor. Waiting until problems explode is usually too late. Here are clear indicators that a school should employ the services of a professional guidance counsellor: 1. When Student Enrolment Is Growing Once a school crosses 150–200 learners, individual attention becomes difficult. Studies in school psychology show that 1 counsellor to 250 students is the minimum recommended ratio for effective support. Beyond this point, academic, emotional, and behavioural issues often go unnoticed. 2. When Behavioural Issues Increase Frequent cases of: - Bullying - Truancy - Aggression - Sudden drop in academic performance These are not discipline problems alone; they are psychological and...

M ake una help me chuk mouth...     " As a teacher I don see things o..." A teacher lamented. "There’s a parent in my class whose child brings a very dirty water bottle to school. I’ve complained before. Last term. I even called her aside privately and explained calmly."     " I told her: Please soak it in warm water, scrub it with a toothbrush. It’s not healthy for your child. She said okay. Fast-forward to this term ....same bottle, same dirt. I gently suggested: If washing it is difficult, maybe get a plastic bottle. It’s easier to clean. Next thing I heard?" The teacher paused then continued.     " She reported me and said I should mind my own business. That it’s not dirt, it’s rust."       Now help me ask: Even if it’s rust… is rust something a child should be drinking from? When did hygiene become disrespect?       As teachers, we don’t speak because we hate parents. We speak because we see these children every ...