Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, who looks after the education ministry, on Monday ordered all corporate colleges and schools set up counselling centres in an attempt to prevent student suicides. A meeting as been called on Tuesday with corporate college and school managements a-nd parents associations to discuss guidelines for suicide prevention. He ordered an inquiry into the suicide of students who were studying in Narayana and Chai-tanya junior colleges and said strict action would be taken against the institutions depending on the report.

He was speaking at a review meeting with Deputy Chief Secretary Ranjiv R. Acharya, di-rector of school education G. Kishan, Board of Intermediate Education commissioner A. Ashok and other officials. Mr Srihari said the institutions should hire counselors who can identify the problems faced by students and these should be brought to the attention of their parents and teachers. “These centres should allow parents to relate their doubts, suspicions to the college authorities,” he said.

Strict action would be taken against colleges that do not send hos-tellers home during holidays. These institutions should follow the guidelines issued after Tues-day’s meet, and their li-cences would be cancel-led if they fail to do so. City psychologists backed the idea of setting up counselling centres. Dr Daina Monterio a counselling psychologist from the Hyderabad Academy of Counse-lling said, “I have seen many students from corporate colleges. Our system of education at the intermediate level and the competition invol-ved in obtaining a seat are absolutely ridiculous. It puts so much pressure on the students that they often become suicidal and feel like they have no options.”

She said parents bring their kids who are depressed and suicidal for counselling. “Colleges and education need to be about wholesome learning and not just academics and our education system doesn’t allow for that kind of learning.” Psychologist Shweta Venkat said, “The pressure on students should be reduced. Colleges should have a counselor whom students can go to and share their concerns with.” She said parents should try to be more open with children rather than instill a sense of fear in them about academics.