SCHOOL COUNSELLORS

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SCHOOL COUNSELLORS: 18.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Acting Minister for Education (a) what is the number of students who sought the help of school counsellors for the years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 for the primary and secondary schools and junior colleges; (b) whether there are any guidelines or rules regarding the number of qualified counsellors for each school; and (c) whether schools are allowed to use only teachers to double-up as counsellors for students.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Acting Minister for Education (Mr Hawazi Daipi) (for the Acting Minister for Education: ): Sir, MOE started data collection on counselling in 2001. In 2001, 2% of primary, 4.9% of secondary and 1.6% of students from junior colleges (JCs) and centralised institutes (CIs) were referred for counselling. Overall, 3.1% of the student population received counselling. Based on the counselling cases reported by schools in 2003, 2% of primary, 5% of secondary and 3% of students from JCs and CIs were referred for counselling. Overall, about 3.3% of the student population received counselling. Two-thirds of these students were seen by school personnel, including Teacher Counsellors, and a third were referred to MOE's specialists and external professionals. In recent years, some schools have observed an increase in self-

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referrals by students and parents seeking counselling help for their children.

Schools have been advised that only qualified and experienced counsellors are engaged to work with pupils. Counsellors should be trained in guidance and counselling, and have appropriate qualifications such as a diploma or degree in counselling, psychology or related areas. The number of external counsellors for a school is, however, determined by the school itself, based on its resources and the needs of its pupils.

Counselling support in schools comprises a number of tiers. Support may be provided both by trained teachers as well as external counsellors engaged by the school. All teachers are trained in basic counselling skills so that they can provide basic counselling to pupils in need, as first-line caregivers. Pupils with more difficult problems can be referred to Teacher Counsellors (TCs) of which there are two in each school. TCs are trained in more advanced counselling and crisis intervention skills. Pupils with more serious problems are referred to the MOE-appointed School Counsellors or external professional counsellors who are engaged by the school. Further support is given by the guidance specialists and educational psychologists in MOE, who provide direct counselling to pupils and assist with making referrals to appropriate agencies, such as the Child Guidance Clinic and Family Service Centres.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Sir, I would like the Parliamentary Secretary to comment on the recent press reports that due to budget cuts, some schools have stopped engaging the services of qualified counsellors. If this was so, how would it affect the quality of counselling services that can be given to students who are in need of counselling by professional or trained counsellors?

Mr Hawazi Daipi: Sir, as I have said earlier, each school has two Teacher

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Counsellors who are able to advise and counsel pupils who have problems. We leave it to schools to determine whether or not they want to engage external counsellors. Up to now, about 70-odd schools are engaging school counsellors who were former school teachers or principals who have been further trained in counselling and are giving care to pupils. I do not think the number of schools which have decided to do away with external counsellors is very large. In any case, each school has Teacher Counsellors who can help the pupils.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Sir, I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary that for schools that do not have trained or professional counsellors, where would the students be referred to if they were assessed that they actually need help which is beyond the capabilities of the Teacher Counsellors?

Mr Hawazi Daipi: Let me first reiterate that the two Teacher Counsellors are better trained compared to the other teachers. All teachers are trained in basic counselling so that they can provide first-line care-giving and advice to the pupils. The two Teacher Counsellors would be able to dwell deeper into their pupils' problems and would be able to counsel them further. If the school does not engage external counsellors but requires more specialised counselling for the pupils, it can refer the pupils to MOE.