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Nairobi, Kenya – September 2024 – Prof. Catherine Gachutha, the Director of the Kenya Institute of Business & Counselling Studies (KIBCO) and Chairperson of the Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA), has highlighted the urgent need for school counseling in light of the recent spate of fire tragedies in schools across the country. In a recent address, she underscored the vital role school counselors play in fostering students’ emotional well-being and supporting their learning and development during crises.
According to Prof. Gachutha, school counselors are pivotal in helping students navigate complex emotions, build critical life skills, and reflect on their experiences in healthy ways. These three key areas, she said, are integral to ensuring students can cope with the rising challenges in schools. Left unchecked, these issues could negatively impact students’ learning outcomes, emotional growth, and their ability to seek meaningful life pathways.
“School counselors are essential in helping students understand and address the increasing incidents we are witnessing in schools,” Prof. Gachutha noted. “If not properly managed, these challenges can disrupt students’ learning and emotional development, hindering their ability to feel safe, fulfilled, and part of a supportive community.”
As students grapple with the trauma left by violent incidents, such as the recent fire tragedies, counselors have a crucial responsibility to guide them through the healing process. Prof. Gachutha outlined three essential steps for counselors to take: comprehension, collaboration, and emotional support.
Comprehension and Empathy
Prof. Gachutha emphasized that counselors must first comprehend the traumatic events themselves. She urged counselors to reflect on their personal reactions to issues like violence and terrorism, as this understanding enables them to better relate to their students’ experiences.
“Violence and terrorism must be understood at a personal level before they can be addressed effectively in schools. Counselors need to be aware of how these events impact them personally, so they can offer meaningful support to students,” she said.
Collaboration with the School Community
Collaboration is another critical aspect of providing support. Prof. Gachutha encouraged counselors to work closely with parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders to create a unified response to traumatic events. She noted that events like school fires affect entire communities, and a collaborative approach is needed to address these issues comprehensively.
“Counselors, parents, and teachers must engage in ongoing dialogue, especially in this digital age, where new challenges emerge rapidly. Through communication platforms such as newsletters and parent-teacher meetings, schools can ensure that students’ learning and emotional health are reinforced at home and in the community,” she said.
Providing Emotional Support and Healing
Finally, Prof. Gachutha stressed the importance of providing one-on-one or small group counseling to students who have been emotionally impacted by tragic events. Whether dealing with large-scale incidents or localized community tragedies, students often require tailored emotional support to process their experiences.
“The scars left by traumatic events do not simply fade away,” she observed. “School counselors are often on the front lines, tasked with providing answers where there are none and offering comfort and support that may seem inadequate. Yet, their role is critical in helping students and communities heal from these devastating incidents.”
Prof. Gachutha concluded by calling for greater attention to school counseling programs across Kenya, particularly as schools face increased social and emotional challenges. Without proper intervention, she warned, the long-term effects of trauma could severely hinder students’ overall well-being and academic success.
The recent fires in several Kenyan schools have sparked widespread concern, with educators and parents calling for more robust mental health support for students. Prof. Gachutha’s insights shed light on the proactive role that school counseling can play in ensuring students’ emotional resilience and creating safer, more supportive learning environments.
