Increasing resources for social work in schools

Create a safe and healthy learning environment

In his opening speech, Mr. Hoang Duc Minh - Director of the Department of Students ( Ministry of Education and Training ) - said: Social work is an important part of educational activities in schools, contributing to care, support, intervention, and timely help for students to solve psychological, emotional, and social problems, ensuring a safe, friendly, and happy learning environment.

In the context of students facing many new challenges such as school violence, academic pressure, psychological crisis..., school social work will become an important bridge between family - school - society. This activity not only supports students to overcome difficulties, but also contributes to the formation of personality, life skills, creating conditions for them to develop comprehensively.

In 2021, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 112/QD-TTg promulgating the social work development program for the 2021-2030 period with the goal of promoting the development of social work at all levels and sectors; ensuring raising awareness of the whole society about social work; improving the quality of social work services.

The Ministry of Education and Training also issued Decision 4969/QD-BGDDT on the plan to develop Social Work in the Education sector for the period 2021-2025, fully and specifically identifying the tasks of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Education sector that need to be implemented according to Decision No. 112/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister.

Recently, the Ministry of Education and Training continued to issue Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT dated September 15, 2025 guiding school counseling and social work in schools. The Circular not only contributes to solving difficulties from past implementation practices, but also opens a new legal framework in building a safe, friendly and healthy educational environment.

Mr. Hoang Duc Minh - Director of the Department of Students (Ministry of Education and Training) delivered the opening speech at the workshop.

Dr. Pham Bich Thuy, Department of Students, commented: Currently, students are facing many problems in psychology, society, learning, life skills, law... In the context of changing socio-economic conditions, requiring teachers in high schools and lecturers in universities to do one thing, which is to advise and support students, to help and support them to overcome difficulties in studying.

School social work is a tool and method to help intervene in schools to support students, to be a bridge between students and their families and schools, to help them develop their abilities, thereby helping them learn better. Social work also creates a safe and healthy learning environment for schools.

Recognizing the importance of social work in schools for the comprehensive development of students, the Department of Education and Training has issued documents to direct and implement social work in schools from central to local levels. A number of programs of international organizations have been implemented to increase resources for social work in schools.

Many creative models

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Kieu Cao Trinh - Deputy Head of the Department of Political Ideology and Student Affairs, Hanoi Department of Education and Training, said: When school social work is organized in accordance with regulations, promptly and humanely, many risky situations are detected early, intervened properly, supporting students to recover psychologically, stabilize social relationships, and return to normal learning rhythm.

Schools strengthen school counseling and social work teams, and establish private counseling rooms. Organize seminars on mental health prevention, digital safety, school behavior, violence and abuse prevention, etc., and integrate them into classroom activities and experiential activities. Teachers and staff in charge are regularly trained.

According to Ms. Le Thi Sang - Vice Principal of Yen Nghia Primary School (Yen Nghia Ward, Hanoi), the school has established a Psychological and Social Work Advisory Group consisting of members representing the Board of Directors, Head of Department, medical staff, and representatives of parents. The teachers selected for the Advisory Group are block leaders with solid pedagogical skills, good communication skills, and are trusted by students and parents.

The school psychological counseling network was built with 35 homeroom teachers, together grasping students' thoughts and providing psychological counseling. Teachers regularly exchange information about students; raise parents' awareness of the characteristics of psychological development at each age, pay due attention, promptly detect abnormal manifestations to have timely and appropriate support measures.

According to a representative of Trung Vuong Secondary School (Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi), in recent years, the education sector has had many policies and strategies to strengthen school psychological counseling. However, in many public schools, this work faces many difficulties. Many schools do not have specialized psychologists, or if they do, they have to take on many other jobs, making counseling activities not regularly maintained. Funding for social activities and school psychology is still limited.

The workshop was attended by experts, scientists, education managers and teachers directly involved in social work in schools.

Faced with this situation, Trung Vuong Secondary School has proactively implemented many models and solutions to mobilize social resources and attract the support of organizations and individuals. The school regularly organizes talks and seminars with psychology and education experts to equip students, parents and teachers with knowledge, life skills and psychological coping skills.

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Lan - Principal of Nhan Chinh High School (Thanh Xuan Ward, Hanoi) shared: In the 2023-2024 school year, through a survey of students at the beginning of the year, the results showed that about 15% of students showed signs of psychological disorders, 10% had difficulty in relationships with friends, 5% had difficulties with health and family circumstances.

Realizing that social work in schools is a key solution to help students overcome difficulties in learning, psychology and social life, the school has piloted this model with a Steering Committee that is strengthened annually; a psychological and social work consulting team with 2 full-time members and all homeroom teachers working together.

After three years of implementing the social work model, Nhan Chinh High School has recorded encouraging results: The rate of students showing signs of stress and anxiety disorders has decreased, 95% of students receiving counseling feel satisfied with the support and have clearly improved in terms of psychology and learning; there are no cases of students dropping out of school, the phenomenon of "school bullying" rarely occurs and is always detected and prevented promptly.

“Social work in the education sector can only be successful with the close cooperation and coordination of the Ministry of Education and Training, the Departments of Education and Training, local authorities, social organizations, and the active participation of teachers, students and parents. Each student needs to be listened to and supported at the right time to develop harmoniously in intelligence and personality, which is also the highest goal of education,” Mr. Hoang Duc Minh affirmed.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/gia-tang-nguon-luc-thuc-hien-cong-toc-xa-hoi-trong-truong-hoc-post753614.html