Seminar on Role of Social Workers in School Complexes under NEP held
BHUBANESWAR, DEC 23
(Infonews Bureau)
The Department of Social Work, BJB Autonomous College, Bhubaneswar, organised the Rabi Narayan Memorial Lecture on December 20, 2024, focusing on the role of social workers in school complexes under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The lecture saw active participation from all faculties of the Department of Social Work, including Dr. Gayatri Patnaik, Dr. Jharana Swain, Dr. Rajashree Mishra, Mr. Siddheswar Malla, and Mr. Sanat Kumar Swain, alongside the office staff members Mr. Uttam Mohapatra and Mr. Panda. Nearly 100 MSW students from various colleges attended the event.
The Chief Speaker, Ms. Subhashree Nanda, Additional Secretary, School and Mass Education Department, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the critical role of social workers in promoting holistic development and addressing the needs of marginalized students in the school complex. Prof. Dr. Itishree Padhi, Principal of BJB Autonomous College, highlighted the importance of social work in education, advocating for collaboration between social workers, educators, and policymakers to build a more inclusive and equitable education system.
Dr. Gayatri Patnaik, Vice President of OPSWA, delivered the welcome address, while Dr. Jharana Swain, Director of SDF, presented the keynote address, underscoring the contributions of social workers in promoting social justice and human rights.
Dr. Ananya Mahapatra, Coordinator of the Department of Social Work, emphasized the pressing need for social workers to engage with school complexes to foster inclusive development. The program was skillfully anchored by Dr. Rajashree Mishra, and the vote of thanks was expressed with gratitude to all speakers, organizers, and participants.
The lecture stressed the vital need for school social work as a cornerstone for ensuring equitable education, addressing diverse challenges, and creating opportunities for marginalized sections.
The event was a grand success, fostering meaningful discussions and exploring collaborative opportunities among social workers, educators, and policymakers.
Professional Social Workers work will lead to improvement in attendance; reduce bullying, personal and emotional crisis; responding to day to day stress, exam pressure, frustration and suicidal tendencies; addressing behavioral problems and relational issues; prevention of child abuse and neglect; preventing increasing violence, and many other intertwined issues.
These Professional Social Workers would inculcate family values, cater to the needs of special populations, students with disabilities, career guidance, crisis interventions, parents counselling, and many other issues that may impede or inhibit students’ academic success and overall personality growth.
