PROFESSOR JOSEPH KINANEH CALLS ON THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS EMPLOY MORE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS TO MANAGE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN THE SCHOOL.

A Professor of Counseling Psychology and Director Academic Planning Unit, Ignatius Ajuru University, Professor Joseph Kinaneh has called on the Federal and State Governments to employ more Guidance Counselors to manage mental health challenges in the school system in post Covid-19 era.

 Professor Kinaneh made the call while speaking on the theme, The Teacher and Educational Development the Covid-19 experience at the opening session of the Quadrennial Conference of Delegates of the Rivers State Wing of Nigeria Union of Teachers.

 He decried the high level of post traumatic stress and mental health challenges among Nigerians including the school environment since the advent of Covid-19 Pandemic and recommended the engagement of more Guidance Counseling professioners to address the challenge.

 The academia also tasked teachers to embrace the appropriate technology needed to facilitate teaching and learning during Covid-19 pandemic.

  According to him, Covid-19 pandemic has brought emerging challenges to teaching and learning while appealing to teachers in particular to embrace e-learning technology to overcome physical gathering in classrooms.

 In her remarks, the State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mrs. Beatrice Itubo tasked labour officials and professionals of varied backgrounds to participate in politics to truly address the plight of Nigerian workers.

 Mrs. Itubo pledged the commitment of NLC to negotiate better conditions of service for workers, urging workers to be politically conscious.