‘Buddy’ in need: Schools go for peer mentorship

In schools across the city, students are doubling up as mentors and guides for their peers, helping them with issues ranging from academics to personal problems.

In schools across the city, students are doubling up as mentors and guides for their peers, helping them with issues ranging from academics to personal problems.

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The Cathedral and John Connon School, Fort, has adopted the ‘buddy system,’ wherein 24 Class 12 students mentor their juniors in their free time.

“Students feel more comfortable discussing issues with seniors. Older children too become responsible and develop leadership skills,” said the principal, Meera Issacs.

As a part of the programme, seniors conduct group discussions with juniors regarding on various issues. At the end of the session, students are free to approach seniors for guidance. “Commonly faced issues such as bullying, peer pressure are raised in the group discussions. We try to come up with solutions to help them,” said Jay Tirodkar, a Class 12 student. “Presently, we are only getting general queries, but I am sure with time students will grow to trust us more,” he added.

At Jamnabai Narsee School, Juhu, a peer-to-peer counselling programme has been implemented, called the Jamnabai Adolescence Mentor (JAM). The programme has been running for the past five years and has seen a good response from students.

For instance, a Class 9 student Aman Iyer (name changed) had approached a senior, saying he was stressed, as he could not cope with studies. Anuja Das, a Class 12 student and one of JAM’s 100 peer counsellors, began to spend time with Iyer, giving him study tips and also helping him de-stress.

“Students are more comfortable talking to peers and other students,” said the school principal, Sudeshna Chatterjee.

At some schools, such as Greenlawns School, Peddar Road, a mentorship programme in place, but is restricted only to academics.“Children with good grades help others, under our mentorship programme,” said principal Kiran Bajaj.

Harish Shetty, a psychiatrist, praised the mentor programme. However, he cautioned: “Peer counsellors should be supervised, trained and guided well.”