phone +91 9443352476
email inspaindia@gmail.com
As professionals in the field of school psychology, we recognize the differences between different school system and psychological services to the children that primarily focusing children from economically prosperous families in India. These varying standards of education can be attributed to varying indicators such as teaching methods, infrastructural facilities, and administrative policies. However, regardless of the school's standard, all children require proper psychological guidance and support to learn and develop skills effectively. School Psychologists are the only professionals equipped to provide the necessary guidance to the children in schools appropriately on data-based decision making. Therefore, it is crucial that Indian schools hire professional school psychologists to create a conducive environment for teaching and learning. This step will go a long way in ensuring a high quality of education in the country.
In India, academic psychology is predominantly dominated by the Western concepts and principles. The psychology graduates mostly get training on educational and clinical psychology. School Psychology is a new area to study and research based on International models. The competency requires both knowledge and skills in a particular domain. To provide a platform to get these inputs in School Psychology, a six member team of psychologists met under the guidance of the renowned psychologist Prof. B. Mukhopadhyay and evolved the Indian School Psychology Association. The national level association is expected to take an initiative at the policy making levels of the State and Central governments to introduce School Psychology as a subject in the curriculum and to appoint at least one trained school psychologist in each school by creating the post of school psychologists all over the country to develop school education more effective. There is a pertinent need for school psychologists to propagate the basic concepts of School Psychology and to impart proper training on the basis of the guidelines issued by the International School Psychology Association, USA, the National Association of School Psychologists and Asia Pacific School Psychology Association, Malaysia.
The Indian School Psychology Association is the need of the hour to help young and energetic psychologists to promote school psychology services. To initiate the process the association was established in Puducherry on 15th August, 2009.
Base of Operation
Its base of operation shall be India.
Character
The Indian School Psychology Association shall be a voluntary non-profit educational service society. All its income shall be applied solely for the promotion of its aim and objectives and no part of it shall be distributed to any of its members.
Vision
Assurance of easy accessibility of academic resources, development of skills for learning, mental health and well-being in all children.
Mission
The Indian School Psychology Association (InSPA) is a voluntary non-profit educational service Society that supports and advocates for school psychologists to provide professional training to have a positive impact on school systems to improve academic skills, social-emotional functioning, and mental health and well-being of all schoolchildren
Core Values
Integrity: InSPA is committed to high standards, ethical principles, social justice, honesty, fairness, and treating others with dignity and respect.
Diversity: InSPA honours individual, cultural, and other contextual differences in our own interactions as they shape Child' development.
Collaboration: InSPA collaborates with other organizations, agencies, and others to develop common concern.
Excellence: InSPA promotes high standards of service delivery and resource deployment.
Aim and Objectives
The primary aim of the association is to develop and promote School Psychology services, Human Values-based education and training to meet the needs of society and particularly to elevate the poor from poverty through school education. To realise the aim, the following are the objectives:
- To promote the use of sound psychological principles within the context of education, internationally.
- To promote communication among professionals who are committed to the improvement of the mental health of children in schools.
- To encourage the training and employment of school psychologists in India.
- To promote the psychological rights of all children throughout the country.
- To initiate and promote cooperation with other organizations working for causes similar to those of ISPA in order to help children.
- To condemn any discrimination of a racial, religious or sexual nature and recommend its members conduct their professional life consistent with this principle.
- To mobilise human resources and other resources to utilise them effectively to realise the aim.
- To establish education, training and counselling centres/units to promote social and economic development of the community through education.
- To establish and promote high quality School Psychology Programmes and Centres to meet the needs of specific groups, particularly the children and teachers.
- To establish education, training and counselling centres at schools, colleges and universities to promote School Psychology.
- To organise local, regional, national, and international seminars, conferences, exhibitions, lecture meetings, workshops and training programmes.
- To propagate the aim and objectives, the association shall publish a quarterly Newsletter.
- To function as an academic- cum- research organisation to undertake relevant research related activities to promote education and human development.
The InSPA is an affiliating association of the International School Psychology Association, USA and Asia Pacific School Psychology Association, Malaysia.
