SS-21023/15/2024-GCDO I/4679825/2026
PROCEEDINGS OF THE STATE PROJECT DIRECTOR,
SAMAGRA SHIKSHA, ANDHRA PRADESH
PRESENT: SRI. B. SRINIVASA RAO, I.A.S.
R.c.No.SS/21023/15/2024-GCDO,Date: 10-03-2026
Sub: Samagra Shiksha – GCDO - Deployment of Additional District Career and Mental Health Counsellors recruited through EdCIL and Interchange of Districts for Existing Counsellors – Instructions for Reporting and School Allocation - Instructions Issued.
Read: Email Received from, EdCIL, Dt: 02.03.2026.
ORDER:
The attention of all the Regional Joint Directors, the District Educational Officers, and the Additional Project Coordinators of Samagra Shiksha in the State is invited to the subject cited and informed that the Samagra Shiksha, A.P in collaboration with EdCIL (Educational Consultants India Ltd.) to strengthen student well-being and career guidance services in schools, an additional 280 District/Mandal Career and Mental Health Counsellors have been recruited across Andhra Pradesh, who are deployed from 02 March 2026.
Further, interchange of districts has been carried out by EdCIL, New Delhi for 32 existing counsellors and district adjustments have also been made for certain counsellors to ensure better coverage and administrative convenience.
All the newly recruited counsellors and the counsellors whose districts have been interchanged are requested to report to their respective District Educational Officers (DEOs) and Additional Project Coordinators (APCs), Samagra Shiksha, in their allotted districts immediately.
The following guidelines are issued for the intervention of Career and Mental Health Counsellors and for monitoring by School Counsellors and PMU Coordinators.
I. School Allocation
Secondary and senior secondary schools (ZPHS, KGBVs, MPUP, AP Model Schools, State Government Schools, APREIS and other school managements requiring support) shall be allocated from one mandal with a minimum of 6 schools assigned to each counsellor for the month of March 2026. Counsellors have been deployed through EdCIL, New Delhi.
II. Priority-Based Allocation
School allocation shall be carried out by the District GCDO and MEOs based on priority needs. Preference shall be given to schools with higher student populations and visible academic, behavioural, psycho-social or emotional challenges. The list of allocated schools shall be submitted to the State Office.
III. Travel Limitations
Counsellors’ conveyance charges are capped at ₹4,000 per month; therefore, schools should be allocated within a 50 km radius.
IV. Visit Plan
Each counsellor shall spend three days in each school initially to assess students’ bio-psycho-social development, observe behaviour and emotional well-being and identify academic challenges.
V. Reporting and Supervision
Counsellors shall submit an action plan and visit report for each school under the supervision of the Headmaster to the District GCDO and PMU Career and Mental Health Coordinator.
VI. Counsellor Duties
Counsellors must assess and support students’ mental well-being, provide career guidance, identify psychological concerns, address career aspirations and implement strategies for stress management and self-awareness.
VII. Time Allocation for Activities
During each visit, counsellors shall conduct:
2 hours of Mental Health
2 hours of Career Guidance activities
This includes awareness programmes, group sessions, individual counselling and interactive activities.
VIII. SCERT Guidelines
As per SCERT AP guidelines, 2 hours per week are allocated for mental health and career guidance. An additional 2 hours may be drawn from IE/WE-ICT/A&C/Samagra activities to support students from Classes VI to XII.
IX. Orientation Sessions
On the first day of each school visit, counsellors must organize an orientation session involving Headmasters, teachers, parents, students and SMC members, highlighting the role of counsellors and the importance of mental well-being and career planning.
X. Counsellor Responsibilities During School Visits
a) For Students
• Conduct awareness programmes on mental health and career planning
• Identify behavioural, emotional and academic challenges
• Understand psychosocial development of students
• Identify mental health concerns and make referrals where necessary
• Provide individual counselling sessions
b) For Teachers, Parents and Community
• Collaborate with teachers to identify students requiring support
• Engage parents and community members in promoting mental health and career guidance
XI. Communication with Schools
Headmasters/Headmistresses shall be informed about the school allocations, timetable slots and responsibilities of counsellors.
XII. Support from Schools
Headmasters and teachers shall extend support to counsellors by identifying students in need and sharing relevant insights.
XIII. Awareness Programmes
Counsellors shall conduct programmes addressing:
• behavioural issues
• psycho-social challenges
• academic difficulties
• emotional well-being
• physical health
• adolescence-related concerns
• career planning
• using interactive formats.
XIV. Parental and Community Involvement
Active participation of parents and community members shall be ensured in orientation sessions.
XV. Logistical Support
Necessary support may be provided for counsellors to reach schools beyond their primary allocation if required.
XVI. Stakeholder Feedback
Structured feedback shall be collected from Headmasters, teachers and students.
XVII. Monitoring and Evaluation
The PMU Career and Mental Health Coordinators and District GCDO shall regularly monitor counsellor activities through school visits or virtual review mechanisms.
XVIII. Record Keeping
Counsellors must maintain confidential records, including:
• case histories
• assessments
• interventions
• counselling sessions
• recommendations
These records shall be maintained at schools and reported bi-weekly to DEO/APC, PMU Career and Mental Health, GCDO and MEOs.
XIX. Performance Reporting
Counsellors shall submit a comprehensive report once every three months covering performance indicators, observations, outcomes and recommendations.
XX. PMU Coordinators
PMU Coordinators:
Mrs. K. Divya – Zone II & I
Dr. P. Venkata Subbaiah – Zone III & I
Dr. Chayendra Kumar – Zone IV
They shall coordinate with District GCDOs, MEOs and other stakeholders and submit fortnightly updates to DEOs and APCs.
XXI. Review Meetings
Fortnightly review meetings by DEO/APC and PMU Coordinators
Monthly review at the State level
XXII. Existing Counsellors
For existing counsellors, mandals have been allocated by EdCIL based on their performance and the list of allotted mandals is enclosed.
Therefore, the Regional Joint Directors are requested to instruct the District Educational Officers and Additional Project Coordinators to allocate secondary and senior secondary schools from the mandal allocated by EdCIL with a minimum of six schools per counsellor for March 2026.
Necessary arrangements may also be made to accommodate existing counsellors whose districts have been interchanged, along with the newly deployed counsellors recruited by EdCIL, New Delhi.
Headmasters/Headmistresses shall extend necessary cooperation and facilitate the conduct of counselling, awareness programmes and career guidance activities in schools.
Enclosures: Allocated District and Mandals
B. Srinivasa Rao, I.A.S
State Project Director
Samagra Shiksha
To
All the Regional Joint Directors of School Education in the State
All the District Educational Officers in the State
All the Additional Project Coordinators, Samagra Shiksha
Copy to
All the Collectors & District Magistrates in the State
Project Manager, EdCIL, New Delhi
👁️🗨️ CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
👁️🗨️ Inter-Change of District for the existing Counsellors
SS-21023/15/2024-GCDO I/4679825/2026
PROCEEDINGS OF THE STATE PROJECT DIRECTOR,
SAMAGRA SHIKSHA, ANDHRA PRADESH
PRESENT: SRI. B. SRINIVASA RAO, I.A.S.
R.c.No.SS/21023/15/2024-GCDO,Date: 10-03-2026
Sub: Samagra Shiksha – GCDO - Deployment of Additional District Career and Mental Health Counsellors recruited through EdCIL and Interchange of Districts for Existing Counsellors – Instructions for Reporting and School Allocation - Instructions Issued.
Read: Email Received from, EdCIL, Dt: 02.03.2026.
ORDER:
The attention of all the Regional Joint Directors, the District Educational Officers, and the Additional Project Coordinators of Samagra Shiksha in the State is invited to the subject cited and informed that the Samagra Shiksha, A.P in collaboration with EdCIL (Educational Consultants India Ltd.) to strengthen student well-being and career guidance services in schools, an additional 280 District/Mandal Career and Mental Health Counsellors have been recruited across Andhra Pradesh, who are deployed from 02 March 2026.
Further, interchange of districts has been carried out by EdCIL, New Delhi for 32 existing counsellors and district adjustments have also been made for certain counsellors to ensure better coverage and administrative convenience.
All the newly recruited counsellors and the counsellors whose districts have been interchanged are requested to report to their respective District Educational Officers (DEOs) and Additional Project Coordinators (APCs), Samagra Shiksha, in their allotted districts immediately.
The following guidelines are issued for the intervention of Career and Mental Health Counsellors and for monitoring by School Counsellors and PMU Coordinators.
I. School Allocation
Secondary and senior secondary schools (ZPHS, KGBVs, MPUP, AP Model Schools, State Government Schools, APREIS and other school managements requiring support) shall be allocated from one mandal with a minimum of 6 schools assigned to each counsellor for the month of March 2026. Counsellors have been deployed through EdCIL, New Delhi.
II. Priority-Based Allocation
School allocation shall be carried out by the District GCDO and MEOs based on priority needs. Preference shall be given to schools with higher student populations and visible academic, behavioural, psycho-social or emotional challenges. The list of allocated schools shall be submitted to the State Office.
III. Travel Limitations
Counsellors’ conveyance charges are capped at ₹4,000 per month; therefore, schools should be allocated within a 50 km radius.
IV. Visit Plan
Each counsellor shall spend three days in each school initially to assess students’ bio-psycho-social development, observe behaviour and emotional well-being and identify academic challenges.
V. Reporting and Supervision
Counsellors shall submit an action plan and visit report for each school under the supervision of the Headmaster to the District GCDO and PMU Career and Mental Health Coordinator.
VI. Counsellor Duties
Counsellors must assess and support students’ mental well-being, provide career guidance, identify psychological concerns, address career aspirations and implement strategies for stress management and self-awareness.
VII. Time Allocation for Activities
During each visit, counsellors shall conduct:
2 hours of Mental Health
2 hours of Career Guidance activities
This includes awareness programmes, group sessions, individual counselling and interactive activities.
VIII. SCERT Guidelines
As per SCERT AP guidelines, 2 hours per week are allocated for mental health and career guidance. An additional 2 hours may be drawn from IE/WE-ICT/A&C/Samagra activities to support students from Classes VI to XII.
IX. Orientation Sessions
On the first day of each school visit, counsellors must organize an orientation session involving Headmasters, teachers, parents, students and SMC members, highlighting the role of counsellors and the importance of mental well-being and career planning.
X. Counsellor Responsibilities During School Visits
a) For Students
• Conduct awareness programmes on mental health and career planning
• Identify behavioural, emotional and academic challenges
• Understand psychosocial development of students
• Identify mental health concerns and make referrals where necessary
• Provide individual counselling sessions
b) For Teachers, Parents and Community
• Collaborate with teachers to identify students requiring support
• Engage parents and community members in promoting mental health and career guidance
XI. Communication with Schools
Headmasters/Headmistresses shall be informed about the school allocations, timetable slots and responsibilities of counsellors.
XII. Support from Schools
Headmasters and teachers shall extend support to counsellors by identifying students in need and sharing relevant insights.
XIII. Awareness Programmes
Counsellors shall conduct programmes addressing:
• behavioural issues
• psycho-social challenges
• academic difficulties
• emotional well-being
• physical health
• adolescence-related concerns
• career planning
• using interactive formats.
XIV. Parental and Community Involvement
Active participation of parents and community members shall be ensured in orientation sessions.
XV. Logistical Support
Necessary support may be provided for counsellors to reach schools beyond their primary allocation if required.
XVI. Stakeholder Feedback
Structured feedback shall be collected from Headmasters, teachers and students.
XVII. Monitoring and Evaluation
The PMU Career and Mental Health Coordinators and District GCDO shall regularly monitor counsellor activities through school visits or virtual review mechanisms.
XVIII. Record Keeping
Counsellors must maintain confidential records, including:
• case histories
• assessments
• interventions
• counselling sessions
• recommendations
These records shall be maintained at schools and reported bi-weekly to DEO/APC, PMU Career and Mental Health, GCDO and MEOs.
XIX. Performance Reporting
Counsellors shall submit a comprehensive report once every three months covering performance indicators, observations, outcomes and recommendations.
XX. PMU Coordinators
PMU Coordinators:
Mrs. K. Divya – Zone II & I
Dr. P. Venkata Subbaiah – Zone III & I
Dr. Chayendra Kumar – Zone IV
They shall coordinate with District GCDOs, MEOs and other stakeholders and submit fortnightly updates to DEOs and APCs.
XXI. Review Meetings
Fortnightly review meetings by DEO/APC and PMU Coordinators
Monthly review at the State level
XXII. Existing Counsellors
For existing counsellors, mandals have been allocated by EdCIL based on their performance and the list of allotted mandals is enclosed.
Therefore, the Regional Joint Directors are requested to instruct the District Educational Officers and Additional Project Coordinators to allocate secondary and senior secondary schools from the mandal allocated by EdCIL with a minimum of six schools per counsellor for March 2026.
Necessary arrangements may also be made to accommodate existing counsellors whose districts have been interchanged, along with the newly deployed counsellors recruited by EdCIL, New Delhi.
Headmasters/Headmistresses shall extend necessary cooperation and facilitate the conduct of counselling, awareness programmes and career guidance activities in schools.
Enclosures: Allocated District and Mandals
B. Srinivasa Rao, I.A.S
State Project Director
Samagra Shiksha
To
All the Regional Joint Directors of School Education in the State
All the District Educational Officers in the State
All the Additional Project Coordinators, Samagra Shiksha
Copy to
All the Collectors & District Magistrates in the State
Project Manager, EdCIL, New Delhi
👁️🗨️ CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
👁️🗨️ Inter-Change of District for the existing Counsellors
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