PCB 2004 Counselling In Education

TOPIC 1 INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELLING IN EDUCATION

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES 1) Understand the relationship between school counseling and the broader counseling profession in Educational Institutions. 2) Learn about significant historical events and legislative actions that influenced the development of the school counseling profession. 3) Providing some factual and useful information on Counselling Board in Malaysia. CHAPTER SUMMARY * School counselors are members of an extended helping profession that spans an array of services and includes practice in a variety of settings. Professional counselors do work in hospitals, mental-health centers, industries, family centers, schools and other settings. * When compared with other notable vocations such as medicine, law, and teaching, school counseling is a relatively young profession, but its growth has been remarkable during the twentieth century. This chapter provides a brief history of the counseling profession and the emergence of school counseling within that profession. In addition, this chapter discusses the importance of a professional identity for school counselors and the national associations that enhance this identity.

Questions To Be Pondered : 1. What is Counselling ? 2. Do you believe in counselling ?, and 3. Would you go to a Counsellor when you encounter a personal problem, e.g. friends betrayal, etc. ? 4. What are some of the services it provides ? 5. What are the counselling services that are available at the present moment which you know existed in our schools ?

Definition of Counselling There are many definitions to a Counsellor. According to Gilbert (1981;270) Counseling is a helpline that concentrate on the improvement, individual development, self-adjustment and the need for a solution and making the decision to become comfortable by finding his previous well-being. Basically, Counsellling is a dynamic helping relationship between a counsellor
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and a client; whereby the counsellor help the client to be aware of his or her actual situation in the area of conflict or problem, and from there help and guide the client to find suitable solutions and positive adjustment. In actual counselling session, a counsellor is NOT a person who dispenses ADVICES !!!

Definition of A School Counsellor

A trained personnel in counselling who implements a comprehensive school counseling programme in the 3 main areas of student development Educational Development, Career Development, and Personal/Social Development. The counselling programme promotes and enhances students achievements through a guidance curriculum, individual planning strategies, responsive services and other comprehensive school counseling services that support the positive development and growth of the school.

In Malaysia, according to the Ministry of Education (Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia), to be a school counselor the person must have obtained a recognized Bachelor Degree in Education (from established and approved Universities) with specialization in Educational Guidance & Counselling/Psychology. The person would have to be trained with guidance and counseling skills to address students academic, personal/social and career developmental needs.

The Brief History of The Development of Guidance and Counselling in Schools

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Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka (DBP) - published a book on Service Guidelines in School (Panduan Perkhidmatan di Sekolah) based on Mankenzie (1963)s Guidance Process and Procedure UNESCOs certification. 1968, Ministry of Education organized a seminar at Selangor, Penang and Kedah on guidance services. It started with the realization of the needs for the direction and career services in schools. 1969, 275 teachers attended a 6-day seminar on guidance services at Maktab Perguruan Ilmu Khas (MPIK), Cheras, sponsored by UNICEF. Hence, career guidance services started to be given emphasis at schools. September 1986, all heads of State Education Department instructed all schools to prepare and implement the direction and career services.

In the 80s - The rise in socioeconomic problems, e.g. drug abuse, child abuse, etc.
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MPIK started a certificate course on Counselling and Guidance; UKM introduced a diploma programme in Psychology for graduate teachers, officers at Drugs Rehabilitation Centers, Prison Officers and officers from Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM). Teachers Education Section introduced an 8-week course Counselling & Guidance organized during the school break. UPM also started a 4-year degree programme in Guidance and Counselling.

Since counseling services was introduce in 1963, when a formal certificate-level course was initiated at the Maktab Perguruan Ilmu Khas (MPIK) Cheras, Kuala Lumpur and subsequently at first degree level by Agricultural University of Malaysia in 1981 while Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia began to offer a course in psychology (counseling) at diploma level in 1980, it has been developing rapidly. In the beginning the Education Ministry organized training and seminars for career guidance teachers in the form of vocational training. Guidance Services in School published by DBP in 1966 became the guidebook for career guidance teachers in schools. Only in 1984 when Declaration 79 (Education Policy) was enforced did the training pattern was revised with the implementation of counseling and guidance with the help of the book Panduan Perlaksanaan Khidmat Bimbingan dan Kaunseling for counseling teachers and school administrators. Only at the end of the twentieth century did universities begin to train counseling teachers for schools and counselors that served in other sectors. The main objective of counselor education is to prepare future professional counselors that may be supplied and beneficial to not only educational institutions, but also to other sectors. Nowadays almost all universities in the country offer courses in guidance and counseling, from first degree to doctorate. It is thus proven that demand for counseling programs at institutions of higher learning is increasing, a sign that requirement for counseling services is also increasing. The demand is accentuated by demand from the Education Ministry of Malaysia for trained guidance and counseling teachers at every primary and secondary schools in Malaysia.
(Taken from an extract in The Journal of Welfare, Vol.25, No.2 Dec 2003, by Prof. Dato Dr Haji Mohd Mansor Abdullah, Professionalism In Counselling Generate Human Well-Being.)

In 1990s, more and more local universities began to set up Guidance and Counselling degree programmes; then the trend moved towards a more specialized degree programme known as Counselling. The move is to focus not only on guidance and counselling at school levels but also organizational and industrial aspects and needs. It is one way of expanding the
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realm of counselling in society.

Even though counselling is still new in the Malaysian Educational System; it has been a positive driving force that is to be reckoned with in shaping the future of our students. These days, counselling graduates can work not only at school levels but also in many companies that need a trained professional to help their staff with regards to positive development and growth of the company.

In the effort to strengthen the counseling services, an association known as Malaysia Counseling Association (PERKAMA) was established in 1982. The main objective of PERKAMA is to unite all trained counselors throughout Malaysia and promote the profession among the counselors. Unfortunately, there is little interest in the association even two decades after its establishment.
(by Prof. Dato Dr Haji Mohd Mansor Abdullah, Professionalism In Counselling Generate Human WellBeing.)

In order for Counselling to be seen and realized as a unique profession with its specific standards form of professionalism and services, certain requirements for standards and the process of counseling must be in accordance with certain code of ethics. Besides that, there is also a need to have legal recognition for the training of counselors in determining a valid quality required for licensing of a counselor. Thus, in 1998, Cabinet approved the Counselor Act 1998 (Act 580) to be the basis for PERKAMA to enforce the unity and professionalism of its members. PERKAMA, then amended its constitutions by including conditions for membership. Among others is to give priority to registered counselors with certificate of practice from the Counselor Board. Counselor Act 1998 states that a body incorporated be established to be
known as Counselor Board.

According to its updated register of members (2003), there are 120 active fee-paying Ordinary Members while there are 166 Life Members. Active and fee paying Student Members numbered 159. However, based on all time membership since establishment, there are 1,000 members whose membership lapses due to non payment of fees. Under part IV, Section 22 (1) Counselor Act 1998 the registration of counselors is enforced.
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Therefore any person who wishes to practice counseling must be registered with the Counselor Board. If the Counselor Board is satisfied that the person is a Malaysia citizen or a permanent resident of Malaysia of not less than twenty-one years old, and hold one of the of the qualifications listed under the Second Schedule, is qualified and suitable to be registered as a counselor. Members of the Board are to be appointed by the Minister of National Unity and Community Development. They shall comprise :

a. President appointed from among registered counsellors, b. A representative each from the Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Department of Islamic Development, Public Service Department and Ministry of Internal Affairs, c. Three representatives from institutions of higher learning, and d. Six registered counsellors.
The Counselor Board functions : - to supervise and evaluate counseling services, - to oversee counselors training and determined the type and level of counseling, - to determine the minimum qualification for registration of a counselor, fixed the standard for training program, - to make suggestion to the government on standards for counseling services, registration of qualified counselors, - to oversee the fees that can be charged by a counselor for his services, - to appoint its members to any other board, committee or a body established for any purpose related to counseling, - to oversee the conduct of the counseling profession including formulating a code of ethics and undertaking whatsoever activity that enable it to function more effectively. The Counselor Board must submit an annual report detailing its assets and activities and a financial report to the Minister. The Board may also appoint advocate and solicitor to initiate and conduct whatever civil proceeding on its behalf. Public Authority Protection Act 1948 is applicable to the Board or its members in whatever action, legal, prosecution or proceeding against the Board or its members.
(by Prof. Dato Dr Haji Mohd Mansor Abdullah, Professionalism In Counselling Generate Human WellBeing.)

Currently, matter pertaining to Counselling is addressed to :

Pendaftar, Lembaga Kaunselor, Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, Aras 6, Block C,
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Kompleks Pejabat Kerajaan Bukit Perdana, Jalan Dato Onn, 50515 Kuala Lumpur. Tel. No. : 03 26930095 ext. 4015, 4031

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