New guidelines issued on school counseling and social work in schools

The Ministry of Education and Training has just issued Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT providing guidance on school counseling and social work in schools.

Psychological counseling sessions will help reduce school violence and other negative behaviors. Photo: Bich Hue/VNA

This Circular takes effect from October 31, 2025, replacing Circular No. 31/2017/TT-BGDDT on guidelines for psychological counseling for students in general schools and Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BGDDT on social work in schools.

The Ministry of Education and Training said: In recent times, the implementation of Circular No. 31/2017/TT-BGDDT and Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BGDDT has contributed to making counseling and support activities for learners in general schools more effective; forming a network to support learners facing risks of psychological and social difficulties in studying, training, psychology and life.

However, implementation practice shows that many educational institutions have not yet arranged specialized personnel, consulting activities are still part-time, lack funding, and facilities are not guaranteed; some places do not have separate consulting rooms or activities are still formal. Coordination between schools, families and society is not synchronous; training of knowledge and skills for staff is limited. The parallel existence of two circulars with overlapping scope and content also leads to overlap, causing confusion in implementation for many schools.

Faced with that reality, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT to consolidate and synchronize regulations, remove difficulties, and at the same time improve the effectiveness of school counseling and social work in educational institutions, ensuring that it meets practical requirements.

The new circular clearly defines the purpose of school counseling and social work as improving learners' capacity to prevent, identify difficulties, resolve and seek appropriate assistance to overcome difficulties in learning, psychology and social relationships. At the same time, training life skills, strengthening willpower, courage, improving physical and mental health; forming appropriate attitudes in social relationships, contributing to perfecting learners' personalities.

The Circular specifies the content of school counseling and social work in schools, including many important areas, closely related to the practical needs of learners. These include counseling and support on issues related to learning; gender, social relationships; psychology; life skills; career guidance, employment, entrepreneurship; policies, laws; and social work services for learners.

In terms of form, the Circular stipulates that school counseling and social work in schools are carried out directly or online. In addition, educational institutions are responsible for establishing a system for receiving and exchanging information; coordinating with families, society, and relevant agencies to promptly receive information about situations and risks of difficulties in learning, psychology, social relationships, or other difficulties of learners. In addition, educational institutions can also organize communication activities and prevention programs; provide information on policies and laws; and provide instructions on the use of school counseling services, social work, etc.

The Circular clearly defines responsibilities among levels, ensuring the synchronous participation of the political system and educational institutions. Provincial and communal People's Committees are responsible for directing, arranging, allocating personnel, funding, and facilities, and at the same time building a coordination mechanism and organizing inspection and supervision of the implementation of school counseling and social work in schools according to regulations.

The Department of Education and Training advises on the development and implementation of policies for school counselors and social workers in schools; develops coordination mechanisms; organizes training and capacity building for staff and inspects and evaluates implementation at educational institutions under its management.

For educational institutions, the head must be directly responsible for establishing a consulting team or department, arranging a consulting room, assigning full-time or part-time staff, developing an annual consulting work plan, and mobilizing legal resources for implementation. The head of the school is also responsible for directing coordination between departments within the school, between the school and families and society, and at the same time creating conditions for staff and teachers to be trained and professionally developed...

The issuance of Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT is an important step in the process of perfecting the education policy system, especially in caring for the mental health and comprehensive development of learners.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/chinh-sach-va-cuoc-song/ban-hanh-huong-dan-moi-ve-tu-van-hoc-duong-va-cong-tac-xa-hoi-trong-truong-hoc-20250922183921331.htm