School psychology counseling is too formalistic, Ministry of Education and Training issues new regulations

Considering that current school psychological counseling activities are still formal and lack specialized personnel, the Ministry of Education and Training issued new regulations to overcome this situation.

The Ministry of Education and Training has just issued Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT dated September 15, 2025, providing guidance on school counseling and social work in schools, effective from October 31, 2025.

The Ministry of Education and Training said that the implementation of school psychological counseling in recent times, despite regulations, still shows many difficulties and limitations.

The 7th grade male student who pulled his teacher's hair and pushed her head down, shocking public opinion, is said to have shown signs of psychological abnormality.

PHOTO: CUT CLIP

Many educational institutions have not yet arranged specialized staff, 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 yet synchronous; knowledge and skills training for staff is still limited; regulations overlap, causing many schools to be confused in implementation.

The new circular clearly defines the purpose of school counseling and social work as enhancing learners' capacity to prevent, identify difficulties, resolve and seek appropriate assistance to overcome learning, psychological and social difficulties.

At the same time, practice life skills, strengthen will and courage, improve physical and mental health; form appropriate attitudes in social relationships, contributing to perfecting the personality of learners.

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, and the right to participate, volunteer, and make their own decisions guaranteed.

Counseling activities must be conducted objectively, equally, and without discrimination; respect personal characteristics, take advantage of strengths and available resources of learners, families, and society; be suitable to regional socio -economic and cultural conditions; 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. That is counseling and support on learning issues (determining goals, building learning plans; time management, choosing learning methods and approaches, etc.).

About gender, social relationships (age psychology, gender, sex, gender equality, reproductive health; friendship, love, marriage, family relationships...); about psychology (prevention, screening, early detection; counseling, psychological consultation for learners with psychological difficulties).

About life skills (cognitive skills, self-control, self-protection; emotional intelligence skills; interaction skills, social integration...); about career guidance, employment, entrepreneurship; about policies and laws; about 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...

The People's Committees at the provincial and communal levels are responsible for directing, arranging, allocating personnel, funding, and facilities, and at the same time developing 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 is responsible for advising on the development and implementation of policies for school counselors and social workers in schools; developing coordination mechanisms; organizing training to improve staff capacity and inspecting and evaluating implementation at educational institutions under its management.

According to Circular No. 20/2023/TT-BGDDT guiding on job positions, job title structure, and quotas for the number of people working in general education institutions issued in 2023, it states: "Each school, from primary to high school level, is assigned one person to the position of student counselor. In case of not being able to arrange a staff, the school will sign a labor contract or arrange for a part-time teacher."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tu-van-tam-ly-hoc-duong-nang-hinh-thuc-bo-gd-dt-ra-quy-dinh-moi-185250922172348001.htm