Counselling is the art of providing a listening and supporting service to students who need extra help due to the unique problems they face. It is also to assist them in exploring various ways of resolving their own problems.
A special moment for the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Education, Tourism and Civil Aviation, when he was the Chief Guest and officiated the handing over of the Students Support Servicess Hub for the Eastern Education Division at Levuka Public School.
‘This is the fourth Hub completed and I would like to acknowledge and thank the Australian Government for the financial and technical support provided in the setting up of this disability friendly counselling centre which will provide counselling services for all students who need psychosocial support in the maritime zone,’ stated Hon. Gavoka.
‘I understand that the Eastern Division was hit hard by natural disasters, the lingering effects of COVID 19 pandemic, and with socioeconomic issues impacting livelihoods on the islands of the Lomaiviti group are not easy to deal with,’ said Hon Gavoka.
One of the initiatives of the Coalition government is to bring services closer to the people. The opening of this Counselling hub is one good example as students and parents in Ovalau and the islands of the Lomaiviti group can access counselling services here in Levuka, as it is the trade hub of the Lomaiviti group.
Data from the Substance Abuse Advisory Council in the last four years, 2020 to 2023, indicate that a total of 1599 students accessed counselling service. From January to December 2023, a total of 359 students accessed counselling service at our counselling centres, where 243 were males and 116 females: 66 from primary and 293 from secondary.
The common presenting problems included violent behaviour towards others, drug intake at school, sex related offences, mental health, and other negative behaviour arising from social media use.
Counselling sessions are recommended to take place in a safe space where children can freely and confidently share their problems without being judged or criticized.
We are extremely happy that the Australian Government, through the Fiji Program Support Facility has been supporting the Ministry of Education in this initiative in training school counsellors, providing technical support to our team, funding of trainings, printing of Student support booklet guides and setting up of four disability friendly Student Support services Hubs.
The Ministry of Education is committed to posting a full time Counsellor to this hub to handle serious referral cases for schools in the Ovalau and nearby islands in Lomaiviti.
‘The Ministry of Education acknowledges the psychosocial and mental health challenges faced by students in schools. For this, the Ministry of Education is currently building the capacity to increase the number of counsellors in schools to assist students in managing their mental health,’ stressed the Minister for Education.
Hon. Gavoka stated that with the absence of corporal punishment in schools, the Ministry is strengthening the provision of counselling services to the students to help them address their own problems with the support of their parents and teachers This is a way forward that will provide a platform for expanding this important service to the students in Fiji.
The Deputy Prime Minister reminded the Heads of Schools that it is crucial that they reach out to counsellors if they notice any signs of unfamiliar and suspecting behaviour in their students.
Hon Gavoka ended his speech in thanking civil societies, faith-based organisations, and the Australian Government for the partnership in psychosocial support with the Ministry of Education.
‘It is my hope that the students and parents of Ovalau and neighbouring islands in the Lomaiviti group will take advantage of this initiative and make use of the counselling services that is provided at the Levuka Hub,’ reaffirmed Hon. Gavoka.
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