Emphasis on mental health for students, teachers
THE Education Ministry plans to increase the number of counsellors in schools.
Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said this also includes counsellors in district education offices (PPD), state education departments (JPN) and within the ministry itself.
“We want to see more counsellors because we feel there is more we can do for our teachers and students.
“There are currently 9,522 counsellors in schools and 326 in JPNs, PPDs, Institutes of Teacher Education (IPG) and so on.
“Previously, there wasn’t enough emphasis on the importance of a child’s mental health.
“We cannot assume that just because they are children, they don’t have stress related and emotional issues. We have to ensure our school counsellors know how to handle such issues,” she told reporters after launching the International Counselling Seminar 2019 last week.
Teo said it is important to recognise that any education system must include the mental development of a child.
Last year, the ministry created a module to equip school counsellors to handle cases of sexual crimes, she said.
“Don’t judge students by their academic achievements alone; their emotions and stress levels are important (too).
“(And) mental health is important not just for students but teachers too.
“The role of our counsellors in JPN and PPD is to help our teachers too,” she added.
On the seminar, Teo said it is a good upskilling platform for teachers as they don’t stop learning after graduating from IPGs or universities.
“This seminar shows our counsellors are committed to give the best service not just to students but to teachers and the community.
“I was made to understand that this seminar has introduced a variety of skills required for effective counselling practice (it) includes leadership, advocacy and the use of concrete data in advocacy efforts,” Teo added.
A total of 500 counsellors from across the country and experts from different countries attended the seminar.
Keramat education department deputy director Asiah Husin, Education Ministry school management division deputy director Faridah Yang Razali, Universiti Utara Malaysia director of the Institute of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Thoughts Prof Dr Zakaria Abas and Malaysian School Counsellors Association president Ismail Hashim were also present.