A fundraiser in Mount Maunganui to help the local intermediate school employ a counsellor for the next two years is raising questions about whether the government's $44 million Counsellors in Schools programme is failing to deliver. $83 thousand was raised by the Mount community, after the loss of a student to a suspected suicide in December 2020.
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The Counsellors in Schools programme was launched by the Government more than two years ago - in response to Covid related stress. But the Education Minister, Jan Tinetti, admits that only a fraction of the money has been spent so far.
Mount Maunganui Intermediate Principal Melissa Nelson says the programme is not delivering fairly, and schools in her region are completely missing out. She says with staggering levels of mental health need among her students, it's not right her school has to rely on the fundraising efforts of the community and the Government should be providing counsellors in every intermediate across the country.
Melissa Nelson speaks with Kathryn, along with President of the Association of School Counsellors Sarah Maindonald. Jan Tinetti responds.
