A national week celebrating the work of school counsellors was launched yesterday.

The Ministry of Education has declared February 6 to 10 the National School Counselling Week to raise awareness about the work of those who support children at school.

Acting Education Minister Walter Lister told a Press conference: " I think that all of us welcome an opportunity to say congratulations to our school counsellors, who play a very, very vital role in education. School counsellors play a vital role in not only helping students but parents as well."

Education officer LeeAnn Simmons said 36 counsellors worked at schools across the Island, all educated to Master's degree level. She hopes to see even more recruited.

"We would never say we had enough. We hope to achieve a ratio of one counsellor to every 150 children at senior school. At primary level, we have achieved the ratio of one to every 250 children."

She said many people had a dated view of counsellors as careers advisors when in fact they dealt with all kinds of issues, including bereavement, bullying, academic problems, truancy, neglect, sexual and physical abuse and drug and alcohol use.

"Some people have some bad memories and we want to say things are very different now," she said.

Counsellor Donnamae Postlethwaite said: "My role as a school counsellor is to help with children's social and emotional growth."