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Education
Gujarat Orders Mental Health Teams in All Schools, Bans Public Mark Shaming
✍️ India Today
🗓 02 Nov 2026, 01:32 PM
👁 19
The Gujarat government has issued a directive requiring every school to set up a mental‑health team and prohibiting the public display of students' marks.
Gujarat's education department announced a statewide order that all government and private schools must establish a dedicated mental‑health team by the start of the next academic year. The directive, issued by the state education minister, outlines that each team should include at least a qualified counsellor, a psychologist and a social worker to address student well‑being and stress management.
The policy also bans the practice of publicly posting or announcing students' examination results in classrooms or notice boards, a move aimed at curbing the stigma and anxiety associated with academic performance. Schools found violating the ban may face financial penalties and a warning from the department.
Officials said the initiative responds to rising concerns about teenage mental health, especially after the pandemic intensified pressure on learners. The department will conduct periodic audits and provide training to teachers to ensure the new teams function effectively.
Parents have been urged to cooperate with the mental‑health professionals and report any signs of distress in their children. The government plans to monitor the impact of the program through surveys and will consider further measures based on feedback.
The order comes into force from 1 April 2027, giving schools a three‑month window to recruit staff and set up the required infrastructure.
The policy also bans the practice of publicly posting or announcing students' examination results in classrooms or notice boards, a move aimed at curbing the stigma and anxiety associated with academic performance. Schools found violating the ban may face financial penalties and a warning from the department.
Officials said the initiative responds to rising concerns about teenage mental health, especially after the pandemic intensified pressure on learners. The department will conduct periodic audits and provide training to teachers to ensure the new teams function effectively.
Parents have been urged to cooperate with the mental‑health professionals and report any signs of distress in their children. The government plans to monitor the impact of the program through surveys and will consider further measures based on feedback.
The order comes into force from 1 April 2027, giving schools a three‑month window to recruit staff and set up the required infrastructure.