This fact further underscores the crucial importance of school counseling.
In recent times, school counseling activities have seen positive changes. The Ministry of Education and Training and the Departments of Education and Training have paid attention to directing schools to develop plans, establish counseling teams, allocate personnel and counseling spaces, and implement various forms of support for students.
According to the report, 100% of educational institutions have established school counseling teams, and 90% have dedicated counseling rooms or corners. Many innovative models have been implemented: online counseling, "What I Want to Say" mailboxes, talk shows on mental health, the "Happy School" model, health enhancement during exam season, etc. Some schools have even applied artificial intelligence in surveys and established counseling procedures according to ISO standards...
However, compared to the importance and urgency of this work, the results achieved are still modest. Not many students have found effective support from the school when facing mental health problems.
Inadequate attention is evident in the lack of resources, such as job positions, funding, facilities, and coordination mechanisms. In particular, the lack of dedicated staff, with only personnel performing these duties in addition to their primary responsibilities, results in unprofessional and ineffective psychological counseling services in schools. Some areas lack dedicated counseling rooms, or these are located in unsuitable areas.
The parallel existence of two Circulars (Circular No. 31/2017/TT-BGDĐT guiding the implementation of psychological counseling for students in general schools; Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BGDĐT guiding social work in schools) with overlapping scopes and content has led to duplication, causing many schools to encounter difficulties in implementation. In general, the challenges in implementing this activity at the grassroots level are the lack of suitable personnel and policy mechanisms for implementers; and the lack of resources and specialization.
In this context, the issuance of Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDĐT dated September 15, 2025, along with its important new provisions, instills confidence in improving the quality of school counseling services. This Circular consolidates and synchronizes previous regulations, clearly defines the responsibilities of the head of the educational institution, requires the provision of private counseling rooms, and supplements mechanisms regarding personnel, finance, and inter-sectoral coordination.
In particular, Circular 18 emphasizes the placement of dedicated staff to provide student counseling, inheriting regulations on job positions, professional title standards, and policies. This is an important foundation for school counseling to gradually become more substantive, professional, and sustainable.
For Circular 18 to truly be implemented, coordinated efforts are needed, including guidance, supervision, and monitoring from the Ministry of Education and Training and local authorities; the allocation of resources by educational institutions; the support and cooperation of parents and society; and close collaboration among all relevant parties.
The key still lies in awareness. Those who don't want to will find excuses; those who truly want to will find ways. When those responsible for implementation truly recognize the importance and urgency of this work, they will strive to find ways to transform difficulties into motivation, limitations into solutions, and to integrate school counseling into daily life effectively and sustainably.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/diem-tua-tinh-than-post749937.html
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