The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has just issued Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BGDDT dated September 15, 2025 guiding school counseling and social work in schools.
This Circular takes effect from October 31, 2025, replacing Circular No. 31/2017/TT-BGDDT on guidance on psychological counseling for students in general schools and Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BGDDT on social work in schools.
Contributing to improving the effectiveness of school counseling
Circular 18 identifies learners as the center, guaranteed legitimate rights, safety and information security, the right to participate, voluntarily, and self-determination.
Consulting activities must be conducted objectively, equally, without discrimination; respect personal characteristics, take advantage of the strengths and available resources of learners, families and society; in accordance with socio-economic conditions, regional culture; and especially be timely and effective when learners encounter difficulties.
Diversifying the content and forms of school psychological counseling
The Circular specifically stipulates the content of school counseling and social work in schools, including many important areas, associated with the practical needs of learners.
These are consulting and supporting on learning issues (determining goals, developing study plans; managing time, choosing learning methods and methods...); on gender, social relations (physology of age, gender, gender, gender equality, reproductive health; friendship, love, marriage, family...); on psychology (prevention, screening, early detection; psychological consultation for learners with psychological difficulties); on life skills (perceptive skills, mastery, self-protection; emotional intelligence skills; interactive skills, social integration...); on career guidance, employment, start-ups; on policies and laws; on social work services for learners.
Regarding form, the Circular stipulates that the implementation of school counseling and social work in schools is carried out directly or online. In addition, educational institutions are responsible for establishing a system to receive and exchange information; coordinate with families, society, and relevant agencies to promptly receive information about situations, risks of learning difficulties, psychology, social relationships, or other difficulties of learners.
In addition, educational institutions can also organize communication activities, prevention programs; provide information on policies and laws; guide the use of school counseling services, social work; organize development support activities for learners.
Ensuring human resources, funding, and facilities for school counseling activities
The Circular clearly defines responsibilities between levels, ensuring the synchronous participation of the political system and educational institutions. The People's Committees at the provincial and commune levels are responsible for directing, arranging, and arranging personnel, funding, and facilities, and at the same time developing a coordination mechanism and organizing inspections and supervision of the implementation of school counseling and social work in schools according to regulations.
The Department of Education and Training advises on the development and implementation of policies for people working in school counseling and social work in schools; develops a coordination mechanism; organizes training and capacity building for teams and inspects and evaluates the implementation at educational institutions under its management.
For educational institutions, the head must be directly responsible for establishing a consulting team or department, arranging a consulting room, assigning specialized or part-time personnel, developing an annual consulting work plan, mobilizing legal resources for implementation. The head of the school is also responsible for directing coordination between departments in the school, between the school and family and society, while creating conditions for the team of staff and teachers to be trained and fostered in professional skills...
