The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in collaboration with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, organised the MATE Counselors’ Conclave at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, to mark the expansion of Project MATE, an adolescent wellbeing initiative developed by the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS New Delhi.Project MATE, short for Mind Activation Through Education, was initially introduced as a pilot programme under the guidance of CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh, IAS. The initiative has now entered its second phase with the participation of principals and school counsellors from more than 60 CBSE schools across Delhi NCR.Structured wellbeing programme for middle-school studentsProject MATE is a structured and evidence-based programme designed for middle-school students. Jointly implemented by AIIMS New Delhi and CBSE, the initiative focuses on emotional, social and psychological wellbeing alongside academic development.The programme includes classroom-based wellbeing modules, peer-support systems through the “MATE-5 Circle”, and parent engagement workshops. Schools participating in the second phase will introduce these modules for students from Grades VI to VIII beginning July 2026.The conclave was attended by senior officials and experts, including Himanshu Gupta, IAS, Secretary, CBSE; Prof. Nand Kumar; Prof. Rajesh Sagar; Prof. Radhika Tandon, Dean (Research), AIIMS New Delhi; and Dr Gagan Hans from the Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS New Delhi. Representatives from pilot schools and institutions joining Phase II also participated in the event.Schools share experiences from pilot phaseDuring the conclave, school leaders shared experiences from implementing the pilot programme. Participants included Rupa Chakravarty from Suncity School, Gurugram; Jyoti Gupta from KR Mangalam World School, New Delhi; Richa Sharma Katiyal from Salwan Public School, New Delhi; and Anita Makar, former Principal of The Knowledge Habitat School, Gurugram.Additional school representatives from Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Uttar Pradesh also attended the programme along with counsellors from the Phase II cohort.A special segment titled “Stories of Strength” highlighted wellbeing practices adopted by pilot schools through poster presentations. Schools demonstrating notable implementation practices received recognition during the event.Counselors to undergo training at AIIMSAs part of Phase II, counsellors from participating schools will attend a five-day intensive capacity-building programme at AIIMS New Delhi from May 11, 2026 to May 15, 2026. The training is aimed at preparing counsellors for implementation of MATE modules in schools.Counsellors who demonstrated strong understanding of the framework during the pilot phase were recognised as Master Trainers. They will support mentoring and implementation activities in the next stage of the programme.A Board of Advisors comprising AIIMS experts has also been constituted to provide academic, clinical and strategic guidance for the programme’s continued expansion.
