COUNSELLING CENTRE

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Education whether he will consider setting up a counselling centre at ministry level to coordinate and provide guidance for counselling service to students.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has a Pastoral Care and Career Guidance (PCCG) Branch which provides support to schools in offering guidance and counselling service to students.

Principals and teachers know their students well. They are best placed to provide immediate basic counselling at the school level to help students cope with their concerns and problems. To help teachers better fulfil their role as teacher-counsellors, the PCCG Branch conducts school-based workshops on counselling skills.

When students require more in-depth counselling and assistance, the PCCG Branch provides advice and, when necessary, assists schools to refer students to appropriate agencies such as the Child Psychiatric Clinic, Student Care Services and Self-Help Groups.

MOE has also compiled a Directory of Social Service Agencies which schools can use for referring students directly on their own.