Are teachers in Vietnam concurrently serving as psychological counselors for students eligible for reduction of teaching hours?

Are teachers in Vietnam concurrently serving as psychological counselors for students eligible for reduction of teaching hours?

Based on the provisions stipulated in Clause 2, Article 8 of Circular 31/2017/TT-BGDDT regarding organizational matters and concurrent roles:

Organization and Personnel

1. The school has a Counseling and Student Support Team and arranges staff and teachers to concurrently perform psychological counseling for students. The members of the Counseling and Student Support Team include: A representative from the school leadership team serving as the Team Leader; members are staff and teachers performing concurrent psychological counseling duties, school health staff, staff and teachers responsible for Youth Union and Team activities, parent representatives, and some student leaders from classes and youth organizations.

2. Staff and teachers performing psychological counseling duties for students must have experience and be trained and fostered in the field of psychological counseling (holding a school psychological counseling professional certificate in accordance with the program promulgated by the Ministry of Education and Training). Teachers performing concurrent psychological counseling duties are entitled to a reduction in teaching load as stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training.

The school possesses a Counseling and Student Support Team and arranges staff and teachers to concurrently perform psychological counseling duties for students.

Among them, staff and teachers performing psychological counseling duties for students must have experience and be trained and fostered in the field of psychological counseling (holding a school psychological counseling professional certificate in accordance with the program promulgated by the Ministry of Education and Training).

Thus, according to the aforementioned regulation, teachers concurrently performing psychological counseling duties for students are eligible for a reduction in teaching load.

*Note: Teachers must have experience and be trained and fostered in the field of psychological counseling (holding a school psychological counseling professional certificate in accordance with the program promulgated by the Ministry of Education and Training).

Are teachers in Vietnam concurrently serving as psychological counselors for students eligible for reduction of teaching hours?​ (Image from the Internet)

What are regulations on coordination work in psychological counseling for students in Vietnam?

Based on the provisions stipulated in Article 7 of Circular 31/2017/TT-BGDDT regarding the coordination in psychological counseling for students:

* Coordination within the school

Staff and teachers responsible for psychological counseling for students closely coordinate with homeroom teachers, Youth Union chiefs, subject teachers, and other educational forces within the school when implementing psychological counseling activities for students.

* Coordination between the school and external forces

- Coordinatio with parents: Regularly exchange information about students; raise parents' awareness about the psychological developmental characteristics of the age group and the impacts of those changes on students; regularly pay attention to, detect, and have prompt supportive measures suitable for abnormal behaviors in students.

- Coordination with experts, professional psychological counseling centers, medical facilities, judicial agencies, and law enforcement to provide psychological therapy and promptly handle cases requiring specialized intervention for students;

- Coordination with psychological education science agencies, qualified pedagogical schools, experts, and scientists to foster teachers and psychological counseling staff’s knowledge, skills, and appropriate attitudes necessary to carry out psychological counseling activities within the school;

- Coordination with the Youth Union, the Pioneers Organization, and other political-social organizations to organize psychological counseling activities;

- Coordination with individuals, agencies, and organizations with related functions to organize psychological counseling activities that meet students' needs and the educational requirements of the school.

What are forms of psychological counseling for students in Vietnam?

Based on the provisions stipulated in Article 6 of Circular 31/2017/TT-BGDDT regarding the forms of psychological counseling for students:

- Develop counseling themes for students and integrate them into separate lectures or embed them in class activities, flag-raising sessions. Organize integrated teaching of psychological counseling contents into official subjects and experiential activities, extracurricular educational activities.

- Organize themed talks, extracurricular activities, clubs, and forums on topics related to counseling content for students.

- Establish communication channels, provide materials, and regularly exchange with parents about the psychological developments and issues requiring counseling and support for students.

- Conduct individual and group counseling and consultation directly in consultation rooms; online counseling through the school's intranet, website, email, social networks, telephone, and other communication media.

- Coordinate with relevant organizations and individuals to organize psychological counseling activities for students.