Thread by @DrZobo

Had a girls’ round table with my little cousins last night. They tabled their nagging student life challenges, I listened and in the middle of our heart to heart talk... the one in JSS2 says,
“I wish my school could employ you as a guidance counselor.”
Curious, I asked why? 👇🏽

Her elder sister in SS1 replied:
In her words, “Let’s put it this way, if you go in to meet our counselor with Malaria... you’ll come out with HIV. She’ll criticize you. I can never confide in her, She can even tell the principal and other teachers.”
She went on to give instances

I felt sad. So we encourage our children, while in school to “report to the school authorities” esp in cases relating to their social/mental health. But how healthy are the minds of these teachers who should be care givers to our children.
It’s high time we stopped hiring...👇🏽

Certificate counselors without content. That one studied Guidance and counseling in school, doesn’t immediately give him or her a pass. Some did expo through out🤷🏽‍♀️. Some don’t understand the sensitivity of that office. You can make or mar someone with the wrong counsel.

I beg our schools to hire with care and also, do termly anonymous reviews of their staff. To know what these students think of their teachers.

Also, to all teachers/counselors, you should be safe spaces for students. Add value daily to yourselves, so you have value to give.

Dear parents, talk to your children. Find out what bothers them. Confront and complain to the school authorities if you have concerns for your children’s welfare.
Guide them through subject and career choices or find one who can.
Listen to them speak. Listen to their silence.
🙏🏽