A Bill for an Act to Establish a National Children's Mental Health Programme in Public Primary and Secondary Schools, and for Related Matters

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Progress through legislature38%

Overview

Funds the placement of trained counsellors in public schools and rolls out a standardised mental-health curriculum for adolescents.

Chamber: House of Representatives
Current stage: Second reading
Introduced: 21 Mar 2026
Last action: 11 Apr 2026

Plain English

A non-partisan summary generated by AI and reviewed by editors for sensitive bills.

AI-generated · human-reviewed

This bill aims to help public school students with mental health by putting trained counsellors in schools and teaching them about emotional well-being.

In plain English

The proposed National Children's Mental Health Programme is designed to support the mental health of students in public primary and secondary schools. It plans to achieve this by training and placing at least one qualified counsellor in every public school with 500 or more students. Additionally, it will introduce a standardised curriculum focused on emotional regulation, seeking help when needed, and identifying distress in peers. This curriculum will be part of civic education for students from Primary 4 to Senior Secondary 3. To ensure a steady supply of trained counsellors, the programme will offer bursaries to Nigerians studying to become school counsellors, with the condition that they commit to working in the public school system for five years after their training. The funding for this programme will come through the Universal Basic Education Commission, with contributions matched by the states.

How it affects you

As a student, you will have access to a trained counsellor in your school to talk to about your feelings and concerns.
As a parent, you can be assured that your child's mental health is being supported and addressed in school.
As a teacher, you will have additional support in the classroom to help students who are struggling with their mental health.
As a community member, you will see an investment in the well-being of the next generation, potentially leading to a healthier and more productive society.

Arguments for

Early intervention and support for mental health issues can significantly improve students' academic performance and overall well-being.
Having trained counsellors in schools can help identify and address mental health problems before they escalate into more serious issues.
The introduction of a standardised mental health curriculum can promote a culture of empathy and understanding among students.

Arguments against

The cost of implementing and maintaining such a programme could be high, potentially diverting funds from other important educational initiatives.
There might be challenges in finding and retaining enough qualified counsellors to meet the demand of all public schools.
Some might argue that the responsibility for mental health support should primarily fall on families and community structures rather than the school system.