Need for Student Support Services

The Ministry of Education’s Student Support services Division is responsible for the psychological, emotional and behavioural well being of the nation’s primary and secondary school children. It is comprised of its manager Steve Williams, Administrators, School Psychologists, Diagnostic Specialists, Guidance Counsellors for the Out of School Suspension Programme, Guidance Officers based in the primary and secondary schools, Special Education Teachers, School Social Workers and Auxiliary Staff. Each segment of the division works hard and tries its best to deliver programmes and help relevant to the needs of the children.

The Chamber is advised that the unit is resolute in equipping its staff with the tools necessary for effective work as all its personnel are sent on periodic training courses to ensure that everyone is au courant with new and innovative counselling techniques, intervention strategies and diverse approaches to dealing with children.

However, the division is not without its difficulties. Schools’ administration seems to be unfamiliar with the correct referral process. We understand that there is often a territorial issue between teachers and officers, which only serves to frustrate the efforts of officers. The division also faces the problem of limited resources with respect to a lack of testing materials and more importantly, insufficient staff. More staff will be necessary if the division is to function as a professional, capable unit. It is important to note that the division’s manager who is aware of this dilemma, requested more staff, but ministerial bureaucracy continues to hamper the process.

As it stands, although we are told that the present staff is experienced and well-trained, the individuals are stretched to their limits, with sometimes one guidance officer to three schools.

Considering the range of developmental, behavioural and educational problems that are encountered daily in schools, it is no wonder that these officers feel overwhelmed when asked to spread themselves so thinly. Above all, the situation is of no benefit to the children, as it is impossible to adequately address each of their needs when the officer is running between schools.

Even more disturbing is that there are only two psychologists for the entire school system. One psychologist covers Southern and Central Districts, while the other handles the Northern districts and Tobago.

Now the system is such that after all suggested interventions have been implemented and exhausted by the teachers, guidance officers, school social workers or special education teachers as the case may be, diagnostic specialists would then analyse and recommend that the psychologists do further testing. However, although it is filtered down, there are still a large number of children to be tested.

It is therefore, incomprehensible that these two psychologists would be expected to test such a large number of children from various districts. Such a situation does not auger well for the children who need their expertise.

Preferably, each district (and there are eight educational districts) would have a psychologist, and each school would have a guidance officer, rather than some schools sharing one, as is the case at present. However, ideally, each school would benefit from having a cluster unit of a guidance officer, a special education teacher and a school social worker to work in tandem for the benefit of the pupils. In this way, all aspects of a child’s possible needs would be addressed. Such a scenario would considerably move our school system towards Vision 2020.

Early screening and testing of children from the primary school level for learning disorders would also ensure that such disabilities are identified and addressed before these affected children enter a high-school system for which they are sorely ill-prepared.

Evidently, the fact that many persons are unaware of the services of the Student Support Services Division seems to imply that it needs to be better promoted on a national level. The Ministry needs to move with haste in order to allow the unit to function efficiently and at full capacity. Only then could it hope to effect positive change among the nation’s children.