The Ministry of Education and Training issued a new mechanism to remove difficulties for school psychological counseling work.

Students will receive psychological counseling and support in studies, gender, social relationships, psychology, life skills, career guidance and entrepreneurship... with the principle of information security and confidentiality.

Faced with difficulties and shortcomings in implementing school psychological counseling, such as lack of specialized personnel, lack of funding, lack of counseling rooms or counseling activities that are still part-time and formal, 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.

The new circular was issued in the context of increasing and more complicated school violence. Most recently, a clip recording the image of a 7th grade male student grabbing the teacher's hair and knocking her down in the classroom to retrieve a sharp toy that she confiscated at Dai Kim Secondary School ( Hanoi ) has shocked public opinion.

The new circular clearly defines the purpose of school counseling and social work as enhancing learners’ capacity to prevent, identify, resolve and seek appropriate assistance to overcome learning, psychological and social difficulties. School counseling and social work also aim to train life skills, strengthen will and courage, improve physical and mental health; form appropriate attitudes in social relationships, contributing to the improvement of learners’ personalities.

Regarding the principles of implementing school counseling and social work in schools, the circular identifies learners as the center, with their legitimate rights, information safety and security, participation, voluntary and self-determined rights guaranteed. Counseling activities must be conducted objectively, equally, without discrimination; respecting personal characteristics, taking advantage of strengths and available resources of learners, families and society; appropriate to socio -economic conditions, regional culture and especially must be timely and effective when learners encounter difficulties.

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 learning issues (setting goals, building study plans; time management, choosing learning methods, etc.); on gender and social relationships (age, gender, gender equality, reproductive health; friendship, love, marriage, family, etc.); on psychology (prevention, screening, early detection; counseling, psychological consultation for learners with psychological difficulties).

The counseling content also supports students in life skills (cognitive skills, self-control, self-protection; emotional intelligence skills; interaction skills, social integration...); career guidance, employment, entrepreneurship; policies and laws; and social work services for learners.

In terms of form, the Circular stipulates that school counseling and social work in schools can be 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 learning difficulties, psychology, social relationships, or other difficulties of learners.

Educational institutions can also organize communication activities, prevention programs; provide information on policies and laws; guide the use of school counseling and social work services; organize development support activities.

The People's Committees at provincial and communal levels are responsible for directing, arranging, allocating personnel, funding, facilities, building coordination mechanisms and organizing inspection and supervision of the implementation of school counseling and social work in schools according to regulations.

The Circular stipulates that 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.

The head of the educational institution 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...

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, 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. The Circular not only removes obstacles from past implementation practices but also opens a new legal framework in building a safe, friendly, and healthy educational environment, where learners are accompanied, shared, and supported to fully mature in knowledge, personality, and social skills./.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/bo-gd-dt-ban-hanh-co-che-moi-go-kho-cho-cong-tac-tu-van-tam-ly-hoc-duong-5059812.html