CBSE and AIIMS Delhi launch Project ‘MATE’ to enhance school counsellor training

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has partnered with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, to launch a new wellness program aimed at enhancing the role of school counsellors in supporting student mental health.

Named Project MATE (Mind Activation Through Education), the initiative began on Aug 26 at AIIMS Delhi and will continue until Aug 30.

The five-day training brings together around 50 counsellors and wellness teachers from CBSE-affiliated schools across the Delhi-NCR region for intensive sessions.

Developed by AIIMS experts, Project MATE follows the “MATE-5” framework, which is intended to help adolescents develop resilience, manage stress, and strengthen peer connections.

The program covers topics including the biopsychosocial model of health, nutrition, family dynamics, anxiety management, digital well-being, and effective counselling methods. Specialists in psychiatry, psychology, and communication are leading the training sessions.

Modules also focus on parental awareness, measuring the impact of interventions, and creating peer-led support systems.

Officials said the program equips counsellors with structured tools to address challenges such as loneliness, emotional disconnection, and student conflicts.

At the launch, representatives from CBSE and AIIMS emphasized that mental health should be integrated into education as a core component rather than treated as secondary.

Currently a pilot project, Project MATE will be closely monitored, with plans to potentially expand it nationally based on outcomes.

Officials said the initiative is expected to strengthen school counselling systems, encourage early interventions, and normalize conversations around emotional well-being among students.