|
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING |
THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM |
|
No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT |
Hanoi, September 15, 2025 |
ON GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL COUNSELING AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK
Pursuant to the Law on Education No. 43/2019/QH14;
Pursuant to the Law on Organization of Local Governments No. 65/2025/QH15;
Pursuant to Decree No. 37/2025/ND-CP dated February 26, 2025 of the Government on functions, duties, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;
Pursuant to Decree No. 80/2017/ND-CP dated July 17, 2017 of the Government on a safe, healthy, and friendly educational environment and prevention and control of school violence;
Pursuant to Decree No. 110/2024/ND-CP dated August 30, 2024 of the Government on social work;
At the request of the Director of the Department of Students;
The Minister of Education and Training promulgates this Circular on guidelines for school counseling and school social work.
Article 1. Scope and regulated entities
1. This Circular provides guidelines for school counseling and school social work.
2. This Circular applies to general education institutions, continuing education institutions, special education schools, vocational education institutions, higher education institutions (hereinafter referred to as educational institutions), and students, learners studying at educational institutions (hereinafter referred to as learners).
Article 2. Interpretation of terms
For the purposes of this Circular, the following terms shall be construed as follows:
1. School counseling and school social work are activities of counseling and support to learners in addressing academic issues; gender and social relationship issues; psychological issues; life skills; career orientation, employment, and entrepreneurship; policy and legal issues; social work services, and other counseling and support issues.
2. Psychological difficulties of learners are psychological factors reflected in cognition, attitude, and behavior arising in the process of study and training, causing obstacles and negative impacts on the performance of learners.
Article 3. Objectives of school counseling and school social work
1. To enhance the capacity of learners in preventing, identifying difficulties, resolving, and seeking appropriate assistance to overcome academic, psychological, and social relationship difficulties.
2. To practice life skills, strengthen willpower and resilience, improve physical and mental health; to form appropriate attitudes and behaviors in social relations, thereby contributing to the personal development of learners.
3. To strengthen coordination between schools, families, society, and relevant organizations, entities, and individuals in implementing school counseling and school social work.
Article 4. Principles of implementing school counseling and school social work
1. To ensure lawful rights, safety, and confidentiality of information; the rights of participation, voluntariness, and self-determination of learners.
2. Learners are the center, without discrimination; equality, objectivity, and standards must be ensured between learners and those performing school counseling and school social work.
3. To focus on strengths, respect the characteristics and circumstances of learners; to utilize available resources of learners, schools, families, and society; to be consistent with socio-economic conditions and cultural characteristics of each locality.
4. To ensure prompt implementation when learners face difficulties and need counseling and support, with close coordination between schools, families, and society.
CONTENTS, PROCEDURES, AND FORMS OF IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL COUNSELING AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK
Section 1. CONTENTS OF SCHOOL COUNSELING AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK
Article 5. Counseling and support for academic issues of learners
1. Identifying academic goals; developing study plans.
2. Managing study time; selecting methods and approaches to study.
3. Addressing academic difficulties.
Article 6. Counseling and support for gender and social relationship issues of learners
1. Issues arising from age-related psychology, gender, sex, gender equality, reproductive health.
2. Counseling on issues related to friendship, love, marriage, family, and community.
Article 7. Counseling and support for psychological issues of learners
1. Prevention; review and early detection; coping with psychological difficulties of learners.
2. Psychological counseling and consultation for learners with psychological difficulties.
3. Referral to psychological counseling services when necessary.
Article 8. Counseling and support for life skills of learners
1. Group of skills for self-awareness, self-control, and self-protection.
2. Group of skills for self-motivation and self-development.
3. Group of skills for mastering emotional intelligence and self-management.
4. Group of skills for social interaction and integration.
5. Group of skills for effective working.
6. Group of skills for interaction with the environment and community.
Article 9. Counseling and support for career orientation, employment, and entrepreneurship of learners
1. Information on professions, disciplines, training programs, and labor market trends.
2. Skills to recognize personal interests, aspirations, capacities, and circumstances in line with career orientation, and career counseling for learners appropriate to their age, educational level, in the context of science, technology, innovation, national digital transformation, and changes in the labor market.
3. Skills in choosing a career, job seeking, applying for jobs, entrepreneurship, and connecting with employers.
4. Other career orientation and entrepreneurship activities suitable for the actual conditions of educational institutions.
Article 10. Counseling and support for policy and legal issues of learners
1. Information on policies applicable to learners.
2. Information on legal provisions related to tasks and rights of learners.
3. Information on legal provisions on crime prevention, prevention of law violations, and social evils.
Article 11. Counseling and support for social work services of learners
1. Information on social work services for learners.
2. Provision of school social work services to learners in accordance with regulations.
3. Referral to organizations and individuals providing social work services as prescribed when necessary.
Section 2. PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL COUNSELING AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK
Article 12. Receiving, collecting, and analyzing information and identifying, classifying counseling and support needs of learners
1. Educational institutions shall conduct surveys, reviews, interviews, assessments, and syntheses of information for early detection and classification of counseling and support needs of learners.
2. Educational institutions shall identify causes, influencing factors, current situation, and predict consequences of risks and difficulties of learners.
Article 13. Formulation and implementation of the Plan on school counseling and school social work for learners
1. Based on the information obtained as prescribed in Article 12 of this Circular, educational institutions shall develop the Plan on school counseling and school social work for learners (Form 01 enclosed with this Circular).
2. The Plan on school counseling and school social work for learners shall include the following main contents: objectives, contents, forms, resources, locations, time, task assignments, and forces coordinating in implementing school counseling and school social work.
3. Educational institutions shall implement the Plan on school counseling and school social work for learners (Form 02 enclosed with this Circular).
Article 14. Inspection and supervision of the implementation of the Plan on school counseling and school social work for learners
1. Educational institutions shall conduct regular inspection and supervision of the implementation of the Plan on school counseling and school social work for learners throughout the implementation process.
2. Based on the results of inspection and supervision of the implementation of the Plan on school counseling and school social work for learners, educational institutions shall continue implementation or promptly adjust the Plan (if necessary).
Article 15. Completion of the Plan on school counseling and school social work for learners
1. For learners who have resolved their difficulties, educational institutions shall terminate school counseling and school social work activities and continue to coordinate with families of learners and relevant entities to monitor, ensure the sustainability of results, and promptly assist learners when necessary.
2. For learners who have partially resolved their difficulties, educational institutions shall continue to implement school counseling and school social work activities for learners.
3. For learners facing difficulties or needs beyond the capacity of educational institutions, such institutions shall coordinate with families of learners to connect with facilities and experts providing professional school counseling and social work services to support learners; thereafter, a Service Referral Form on school counseling and school social work for learners (Form 03 enclosed with this Circular) shall be prepared.
Article 16. Reporting on the implementation of the Plan on school counseling, school social work for learners and record-keeping
Departments of Education and Training and educational institutions shall prepare reports for the first semester and for the school year as follows:
1. Report contents: Direction and guidance work; implementation of the Plan on school counseling and school social work in schools; results, difficulties, and limitations; proposals and recommendations (if any).
2. Reporting entities: Departments of Education and Training and educational institutions; report recipients: Ministry of Education and Training, Departments of Education and Training.
3. Reporting periods: First semester report; school year report.
4. Methods of sending and receiving reports:
Depending on actual conditions of agencies, organizations, or individuals, reports may be sent by one of the following methods:
a) Written reports on paper sent in person or via postal services to the Ministry of Education and Training; or sent by fax;
b) Written reports in electronic form sent via email system, electronic administrative management system of the Ministry of Education and Training (e-office system), specialized reporting software system (if any), or other methods as prescribed by law;
c) Reports submitted via software on the reporting information system of the Ministry of Education and Training, and the reporting information system of the Government according to the prescribed roadmap.
5. Cut-off time for report data:
a) First semester report: From the start of the school year to the end of the first semester according to the annual school year schedule;
b) School year report: From the start of the school year to the end of the school year according to the annual school year schedule.
6. Time limit for submitting reports:
a) For paper reports: Departments of Education and Training and educational institutions shall send reports to the Ministry of Education and Training before January 31 and June 30 each year;
b) For reports via the reporting information system of the Ministry of Education and Training: Reports must be submitted within 3 working days after the report data deadline; each administrative level shall have 3 working days for consolidating reports.
7. Report outline template: Form 04 enclosed with this Circular.
8. Educational institutions are responsible for keeping records of school counseling and school social work in schools as prescribed. Records include 4 Forms enclosed with this Circular.
9. Educational institutions shall provide counseling and support for learners in each specific case in accordance with professional procedures on school counseling and school social work issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.
Section 3. FORMS OF IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL COUNSELING AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK
Article 17. Direct counseling and support
1. Counseling and support for learners at the school counseling and school social work office or other suitable locations depending on the conditions of schools and learners.
2. Counseling and support for groups of learners at the school counseling and school social work office or other suitable locations depending on the conditions of schools and learners.
Article 18. Online counseling and support
1. Educational institutions shall provide counseling and support for learners via online channels: intranet, school websites, email, social networks, telephone, or other means of communication.
2. Organizing online counseling and support sessions for groups of learners or for the entire school.
Article 19. Establishing information reception and exchange systems
1. Educational institutions shall establish information reception systems including suggestion boxes, hotlines, IT applications, or through administrators, teachers, staff, lecturers to receive and capture information about risks and difficulties of learners requiring support.
2. Educational institutions shall establish direct or online communication channels for regular exchanges between those performing school counseling and school social work and learners, their families on counseling and support issues.
3. Coordination with families, society, and relevant agencies to promptly receive information on situations and risks of academic, psychological, social relationship, or other difficulties of learners.
4. Application of IT solutions suitable for conditions of educational institutions in school counseling and school social work.
Article 20. Organization of communication activities and preventive programs
1. Educational institutions shall coordinate with stakeholders inside and outside schools to organize thematic activities, extracurricular activities, clubs, forums, seminars, and other forms; to provide information and documents for learners on the contents of school counseling and school social work.
2. Warning learners about situations and risks of academic, psychological, social relationship, or other difficulties.
Article 21. Providing information on policy and law
1. Educational institutions shall provide and update information on policies and legal provisions related to learners.
2. Coordination with relevant stakeholders to implement school counseling and school social work on policies and legal provisions related to learners.
3. Making recommendations to competent authorities on policies and legal provisions related to learners and promoting the exercise of rights of learners.
Article 22. Guidance on the use of school counseling and social work services
1. Guiding learners and their families to seek and use school counseling and social work services, including the National Child Protection Hotline at 111.
2. Connecting and coordinating with facilities and experts providing school counseling and social work services for learners.
3. Mobilizing appropriate and lawful resources in providing school counseling and social work services for learners in need.
Article 23. Organization of development support activities for learners
After implementing school counseling and school social work activities, educational institutions shall organize development support and community integration activities for learners, including: policy counseling, psychological rehabilitation, and other activities.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS IN IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL COUNSELING AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK
Article 24. Responsibilities of the Province-level People’s Committee
1. Direct relevant agencies and organizations to arrange and assign personnel to carry out school counseling and school social work in schools in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training on job positions, structure of public employees by professional titles, and staffing norms in general education institutions and public special education schools.
2. Direct relevant agencies and organizations to allocate funding, ensure physical facilities, and provide equipment as prescribed for school counseling and school social work at public educational institutions under local management.
3. Direct relevant agencies and organizations to develop mechanisms for coordination with the Department of Education and Training in implementing school counseling and school social work at public educational institutions under local management.
4. Direct the Department of Education and Training and relevant units to conduct inspection and evaluation of the implementation of school counseling and school social work by educational institutions under local management, and of coordination with organizations and individuals providing school counseling and social work services in the locality.
Article 25. Responsibilities of the Department of Education and Training
1. Advise the Province-level People’s Committee on formulating and implementing policies for personnel performing school counseling and school social work in schools, suitable to the local socio-economic conditions.
2. Coordinate with relevant agencies and organizations to establish mechanisms for coordination between education regulatory agencies, educational institutions, and relevant agencies and organizations in implementing school counseling and school social work.
3. Advise the Province-level People’s Committee to allocate funding for training and capacity building for staff in charge of school counseling and school social work at educational institutions under its management.
4. Organize inspection and evaluation of the implementation of school counseling and school social work at educational institutions under its management.
Article 26. Responsibilities of the commune-level People’s Committee
1. Guide the arrangement and assignment of personnel for school counseling and school social work in schools in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training on job positions, structure of public employees by professional titles, and staffing norms in educational institutions under its management.
2. Ensure allocation of budget, facilities, and equipment as prescribed for school counseling and school social work at public educational institutions under its management.
3. Guide relevant agencies and organizations to coordinate with educational institutions in implementing school counseling and school social work at educational institutions under its management.
4. Guide educational institutions and relevant units to organize inspection and evaluation of the implementation of school counseling and school social work by educational institutions under its management, and of coordination with organizations and individuals providing school counseling and social work services in the locality.
Article 27. Responsibilities of the head of educational institutions
1. For general education institutions and special education schools: establish a school counseling and school social work Team/Unit, including: a school leader as Team Leader; permanent members being public employees in charge of or concurrently assigned to student counseling; members being homeroom teachers, Youth Union/Team teachers, school health staff, representatives of parents of learners, and other members decided by the head of the general education institution. For vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, and continuing education institutions: establish a Team/Unit for implementing school counseling and school social work, and assign focal point personnel to perform the tasks prescribed in this Circular.
2. For general education institutions and special education schools: propose competent authorities to assign full-time public employees for student counseling; if staffing cannot be arranged, enter into labor contracts or assign teachers concurrently. Full-time student counselors must meet all standards and perform duties in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training. For vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, and continuing education institutions: ensure that personnel in charge of school counseling and school social work participate in training and professional development; enjoy benefits under internal spending regulations and other rules of the educational institution; and be eligible for commendation under the Law on Emulation and Commendation when achieving outstanding performance in school counseling and school social work.
3. Arrange a school counseling and school social work room ensuring privacy, quietness, accessibility, and appropriateness for counseling and support activities; provide facilities, equipment, materials, and learning resources as prescribed to implement school counseling and school social work.
4. Direct the development and implementation of plans for school counseling and school social work; enable administrators, lecturers, teachers, and staff of educational institutions to attend training for professional capacity building; provide documents and training programs on school counseling and school social work for administrators, lecturers, teachers, and learners.
5. Based on actual conditions of educational institutions and needs of learners, proactively implement appropriate contents and forms of school counseling and school social work.
6. Allocate funding for the implementation of school counseling and school social work from the institution’s financial resources and other lawful sources (if any) as prescribed by law.
7. Direct coordination between the Team/Unit performing school counseling and school social work and other relevant forces in schools; coordinate between schools, families, political-social organizations, agencies, organizations, individuals, and service providers of school counseling and school social work to implement counseling and support for learners.
8. For general education institutions and special education schools: direct coordination with agencies, organizations, experts, scientists, and eligible training educational institutions to provide capacity building for personnel engaged in school counseling and school social work; enable experts, lecturers, and students of Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology to participate in practice and internship at educational institutions under their management.
9. Heads of higher education institutions with groups of disciplines or majors in Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology shall participate in developing materials and coordinate with Departments of Education and Training to organize training and capacity building on school counseling and school social work; coordinate with education regulatory agencies, educational institutions, and service providers of school counseling and school social work to implement counseling and support activities in educational institutions; coordinate with educational institutions to arrange for experts, lecturers, and learners in Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology to undertake practice and internships.
This Circular shall come into force as of October 31, 2025.
This Circular replaces Circular No. 31/2017/TT-BGDDT dated December 18, 2017, of the Minister of Education and Training on guidelines for implementing psychological counseling for students in general education institutions, and Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BGDDT dated December 26, 2018, of the Minister of Education and Training on guidelines for school social work.
Article 29. Implementation responsibilities
Chief of the Office, Director General of the Department of students, learners, heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training; Presidents of Province-level People’s Committees, centrally-affiliated cities; Directors of Departments of Education and Training; Presidents of commune-level People’s Committees; relevant agencies, organizations, entities, and individuals shall implement this Circular./.
|
|
PP. MINISTER Pham Ngoc Thuong |
