New Delhi: 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, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of Project MATE (Mind Activation Through Education) a pioneering adolescent wellbeing initiative developed by the Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS New Delhi. Initially launched as a pilot under the guidance of Sh. Rahul Singh, IAS, Chairperson, CBSE, Project MATE has now entered its second phase, with the participation of Principals and School Counsellors from more than 60 CBSE schools across Delhi NCR. Project MATE is a structured, evidence-based adolescent wellbeing programme jointly implemented by AIIMS New Delhi and CBSE for middle-school students, aimed at promoting emotional, social, and psychological wellbeing alongside academic growth.
The initiative includes classroom-based wellbeing modules, peer-support mechanisms through the “MATE-5 Circle”, and parent engagement workshops. The programme was graced by Sh. Himanshu Gupta, IAS, Secretary, CBSE; Prof. (Dr.) Nand Kumar, Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS New Delhi; Prof. (Dr.) Rajesh Sagar, Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS New Delhi; Prof. (Dr.) Radhika Tandon, Dean (Research), AIIMS New Delhi; Sh. Brij Bakshi, Former Director, Doordarshan and Communication Expert; Prof. (Dr.) Vijendra Singh, Head, Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS Bhopal; Prof. (Dr.) Bishwaranjan Mishra, Head, Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS Bhubaneswar; and Dr Gagan Hans, Additional Professor, Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS New Delhi, along with CBSE officers, AIIMS faculty members, representatives from pilot schools, and schools joining Phase II.
Addressing the gathering, Sh. Himanshu Gupta, IAS, acknowledged the contributions of pilot schools and emphasised the critical role of school leadership in strengthening student wellbeing ecosystems, reaffirming CBSE’s commitment to the initiative. Prof. (Dr.) Radhika Tandon highlighted the importance of collective stakeholder engagement in making the pilot successful, while Prof. (Dr.) Nand Kumar shared how insights from the pilot phase informed the design and refinements for Phase II. Ms Rupa Chakravarty, Director, Suncity School, Gurugram; Ms Jyoti Gupta, Director Principal, KR Mangalam World School, New Delhi; Ms Richa Sharma Katiyal, Captain, Salwan Public School, New Delhi; and Ms Anita Makar, former Principal, The Knowledge Habitat School, Gurugram— shared their experiences and insights from the implementation of the pilot programme.
The conclave also saw the presence of Ms. Richa Sharma Agnihotri, Principal, Sanskriti School Delhi; Ms Manisha Joshi, Principal, Mother Mary’s School, Delhi; Ms Deepa Nicodemus, Principal, Pragyanam School, Gurugram; Ms. Alice Rose D'Lima, Principal, Loreto Convent School, Delhi; Mr. Dinesh Kumar Joshi, ITBP Public School, Saboli, Haryana; Mr. Madhur Gupta, Principal, Genesis Global School, Noida; and Ms. Upasna Sharma, Principal, Sarla Chopra DAV Public School, Noida, Dr. Jyoti Sirohi, Principal, DPS Modinagar, Ghaziabad, Dr Poonam Minhas, Gyan Anant Vidyalaya, Atrouli, Uttar Pradesh along with counselors representing the Phase II cohort. A special segment, “Stories of Strength,” showcased innovative wellbeing practices adopted by pilot schools through poster presentations, with top-performing schools receiving recognition and commendation.
Counsellors demonstrating exceptional understanding of the MATE framework during the pilot were recognised as Master Trainers, who will support mentoring and implementation in the next phase. A Board of Advisors, comprising experts from the AIIMS community, has also been constituted to provide continued academic, clinical, and strategic guidance for the programme’s evidence-based expansion. As part of Phase II, counsellors from participating schools will undergo a five-day intensive capacity-building programme from 11–15 May 2026 at AIIMS New Delhi, preparing them for the implementation of MATE modules in schools from July 2026 for students of Grades VI to VIII, including peer-support activities, parent workshops, and strengthened home-school engagement initiatives. Project MATE marks a significant collaborative step toward building emotionally resilient, mentally healthy, and supportive school ecosystems for adolescents.
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