Building a safe and healthy educational environment through school counseling

Faced with difficulties and shortcomings in psychological counseling and student support, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT providing guidance on school counseling and social work in schools.

Math class of teachers and students of Thang Long Secondary School. (Photo: THE DAI)

This is a necessary step to unify and synchronize regulations, remove practical obstacles, and contribute to building a safe, healthy, and friendly educational environment that meets the legitimate aspirations of students, parents, teachers, and society. On this occasion, Nhan Dan Newspaper reporters had an interview with Mr. Hoang Duc Minh, Director of the Department of Students ( Ministry of Education and Training ) about the meaning, content, and expectations that Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT (Circular 18) brings.

Mr. Hoang Duc Minh, Director of Student Affairs Department (Ministry of Education and Training).
(Photo: TRAN HIEP)

Reporter: Sir, why did the Ministry of Education and Training issue Circular 18 at this time? What is the significance of the Circular in overcoming shortcomings and at the same time supplementing and perfecting current policies?

Mr. Hoang Duc Minh: Previously, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular No. 31/2017/TT-BGDDT and Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BGDDT, creating a legal framework for psychological counseling and social work in schools. This has contributed to making counseling and support activities for students in general schools more effective and forming a network to support students facing risks of psychological and social difficulties in studying, training, psychology and life. Many Departments of Education and Training and schools have paid more attention and focus on this work.

However, the implementation has shown many difficulties and limitations. 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. The coordination between schools, families and society is not synchronous; the work of fostering knowledge and skills for the team is limited. In particular, the parallel existence of two circulars with overlapping scope and content has led to overlap, causing many schools to be confused in implementation.

Faced with that reality, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT to streamline the system of legal documents on psychological counseling and social work in schools; improve the effectiveness of school counseling, contribute to preventing, intervening, and supporting students' difficulties in learning, health, and psycho-social issues; at the same time expand the scope and content of activities; update and supplement new regulations of related laws to clarify the responsibilities of all levels, sectors, and heads of educational institutions. Thereby, aiming to build safe, healthy, and friendly schools, contributing to improving the quality of comprehensive education.

Reporter: Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT was issued at the same time as Circular No. 19 / 2025/TT-BGDDT on rewards and discipline for students in educational institutions. This is an intentional "parallelism". So can you explain the relationship and complementarity between these two Circulars?

Mr. Hoang Duc Minh: Circular 18 defines the purpose of school counseling and social work as enhancing learners' capacity to prevent, identify difficulties, seek appropriate assistance and solve problems related to learning, psychology and social relationships. At the same time, the Circular helps to practice life skills, strengthen willpower, courage, improve physical and mental health; form appropriate attitudes in social relationships, contributing to perfecting students' personalities.

School counseling and social work are the solutions to prevent and stop deviant and different behaviors of learners, and at the same time intervene and support with the consequences caused by these behaviors. Therefore, Circular 18 directly supports the reward and discipline work stipulated in Circular 19, which is both strict and humane.

Students of Thang Long Primary School ( Hanoi ) in Vietnamese class. (Photo: THE DAI)

Reporter: Does Circular 18 set out any requirements on the coordination mechanism between family , school and society in psychological counseling, especially for students who have violated discipline?

Mr. Hoang Duc Minh: Educational institutions will proactively deploy the content and form of school counseling and social work to suit practical conditions and student needs. For students who violate discipline, the school is responsible for choosing appropriate forms of support or requiring students to participate in counseling activities during the disciplinary period. This process is implemented according to specific regulations in Circular 18, ensuring that it helps students identify and overcome difficulties while enhancing educational effectiveness.

In addition, 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. Screening, early detection and grouping of students in need of consulting and support, especially in different situations, to provide effective solutions.

Reporter: Some people say that disciplining students with only a self-criticism, apology or commitment is not enough, especially for serious acts . What do you think about the combination of discipline under Circular 19 and psychological counseling under Circular 18 to be both strict and humane?

Mr. Hoang Duc Minh: The issuance of Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT is an important step in the process of perfecting the education policy system, especially in mental health care and comprehensive development for learners. When combined with the work of commendation and discipline according to Circular 19, these will be substantive consulting, support and educational measures, helping schools solve practical problems. At the same time, these two Circulars open a new legal framework, building a safe, friendly and healthy educational environment, where students can accompany, share and develop comprehensively in knowledge, personality and social skills.

Reporter: Many people are concerned that the new regulations of Circular 19 are somewhat “soft”, which could lead to the recurrence of serious violations. When combined with Circular 18, do schools have enough tools to ensure the safety of teachers and other students, as well as provide psychological support to affected teachers, sir?

Mr. Hoang Duc Minh: Circular 18 and Circular 19 are proactive, flexible and effective in educational management. Circular 18 builds a safe, friendly, healthy educational environment, accompanying students for comprehensive development. Circular 19 supplements the principle of humanity, enhances the autonomy and responsibility of managers at all levels and teachers, and ensures coordination between schools, families and society.

Regarding psychological support for teachers, the Ministry of Education and Training has implemented training programs and provided guidance on psychological support skills for themselves and their colleagues. In the coming time, the Ministry will continue to direct and guide the work of counseling and psychological support for the team of managers, lecturers, teachers and staff at educational institutions.

Circular 18 and Circular 19 are proactive, flexible and effective in educational management. Circular 18 builds a safe, friendly and healthy educational environment, accompanying students for comprehensive development. Circular 19 supplements the principle of humanity, enhances the autonomy and responsibility of managers at all levels and teachers, and ensures coordination between schools, families and society.

Head of Department of Students (Ministry of Education and Training) Hoang Duc Minh

Students of Minh Khai Secondary School (Bach Mai Ward, Hanoi) actively participate in giving opinions during class. (Photo: THE DAI)

Reporter: How does the Ministry of Education and Training plan to train and develop the team of psychological counselors in high schools ?

Mr. Hoang Duc Minh: Currently, the Ministry of Education and Training has issued a Training Program according to professional title standards for the position of student counselor in Decision No. 1311/QD-BGDDT dated May 13, 2025. This Program specifies in detail the training of basic knowledge and skills, meeting the job requirements of student counselors; at the same time, guides the organization and training. The main task of student counselors is to perform school counseling and social work in schools.

In the coming time, the Ministry of Education and Training will continue to issue implementation plans and coordinate with relevant organizations and units to train and foster a team of psychological counselors in high schools, in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of counseling and student support work.

Thank you very much!

QUYNH NGUYEN - QUY TUNG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/xay-dung-moi-truong-giao-duc-an-toan-lanh-manh-nho-cong-tac-tu-van-hoc-duong-post910053.html