Counseling in Education

Lesson 1
An Introduction
What this course is all about?

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Counseling in education

• It is an introductory course to the contemporary school counseling

services that are carried out in schools in Malaysia;
• It gives the learners an informational view on the roles and
functions of a school counselor, the profession, the important
components of its services, and also certain aspects of the ethical
and professional issues involved.
• Take a look at the course plan.

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Questions to be pondered…

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Discuss…

• What is Counseling?
• Do you believe in counseling?, and Would you go to a Counselor
when you encounter a personal problem, e.g. friend’s betrayal,
etc.?
• What are some of the services it provides?
• What kind of counseling services that you know existed in our
schools?

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What is counseling?

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What is counseling?

• Basically, counseling is a dynamic helping relationship between

a counselor and a client; whereby the counselor helps the client to
be aware of his or her actual situation in the area of conflict or
problem, and from there assists and guides the client to find
suitable solutions and positive adjustment.

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Brief history of the emergent of school
counseling services

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The history of school counseling

• The school counseling profession began as a vocational guidance

movement that emerged from the Industrial Revolution.
• Some negative by-products of the tremendous industrial growth –
city slums, ethnic ghettos, and apparent neglect of individual rights
and integrity.
• In response to this – proponents of Progressive Movement –
advocated for social reform.
• Vocational guidance was one aspect of this response.

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The history of school counseling

• Jesse B. Davis is thought to be the first person to implement a

systematic guidance program in school. 1898 – 1907, he was a
class counselor at Central High School in Detroit, US.
• Frank Goodwin organized a systematic guidance program for the
Cincinnati, Ohio, schools in 1911.
• 1908, Eli Weaver at the Boys High School of Brooklyn City.
• 1908, Frank Parsons organized the Boston Vocational Bureau to
provide assistance for young people.

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The history of school counseling

• Frank Parsons who was also known as the “Father of Guidance”

had written a book entitled “Choosing a Vocation”.
• Parsons (1909) highlighted 3 essential factors for choosing an
appropriate vocation: (1) clear self understanding of one’s
aptitudes, abilities, interests, resources, and limitations; (2)
knowledge of the requirements, advantages, disadvantages, and
compensation for different types of employment; and (3) an
understanding of the relationship between these 2 groups of facts.
• This conceptualization of successful career development still holds
credence today.

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The people

Eli Weaver
Frank Parsons

Jesse Davis Frank Goodwin

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The history of school counseling

• Parsons’ plan also included training counselors to help young

students with vocational development.
• 9 months after establishing the Vocational Bureau, Parsons began
a program designed to train young men to become vocational
counselors and managers of vocational bureaus for YMCAs,
schools, colleges, and businesses throughout the country.

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The school counseling of today

• Develops and implements a comprehensive school counseling

program that promotes and enhances students’ achievements
through a guidance curriculum, individual planning strategies,
responsive services and other comprehensive school counseling
services with regards to the 3 main areas of student development
(Academic Development, Career Development, and
Personal/Social Development) that support the positive
development and growth of the students and school.

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Brief history of school counseling
services in Malaysia

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School counseling in Malaysia

• 1961 – a book entitled “Handbook on Training Facility in Malaya”

was published.
• 1962 – an expert consultant of Colombo Plan named R. K.
Mackenzie was assigned to the Ministry of Education. His duties
was to train 11 school administrators in developing a manual for
“school services”.
• The team has managed to publish several books/articles on
guidelines of school services. In 1966, Dewan Bahasa dan
Pustaka (DBP) has published a book called “English Guidance
Service in School”.

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The school counseling in Malaysia

• 1963 – Unit Panduan Pelajaran dan Kerjaya was established

under the arm of Educational Planning and Research Division,
Ministry of Education.
• The unit then was transferred to the School Division in 1973.
• 1974 – The Ministry of Education has produced a circular -
KP5209/33(4) – for schools to appoint “guru bimbingan”.

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The school counseling in Malaysia

• In 1984 the Ministry of Education has published a guide book on

the implementation of guidance and counseling services in
secondary schools. The book contained all the guidelines which
covering the concepts, philosophy, ethics and prescription of
counseling services functions. The types of guidance and
counseling services have also been outlined, they are: 1) Inventory
Services and Student Records; 2) The provision of information
services; 3) Group Counseling; 4) Individual Counseling; 5)
Students Placement Services; 6) Anti-Drug Education Services; 7)
Consultation and Referral Services; 8) Parental Consultation; 9)
Coordination of Resources; and 10) Assessment and Evaluation
Services

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The school counseling in Malaysia

• In 1996, with reference to circular KP(BS-HEP)8543/60/(91) from

the Ministry of Education, dated 18 March 1996, full-time
counselors were appointed in secondary schools. The work scope,
responsibilities, and roles of full-time counselors were clearly
defined to ensure effectiveness. The counselor- to-student ratio
was suggested at 1:750. In regard with a new circular -
KP(BS)8591/Jld.VIII/35 from the Ministry of Education, dated 11
July 1996, full-time counselors were directed to adhere to office
hours from 8.00 a.m. till 4.00 p.m. Their responsibilities included
22 job functions covering five major areas. In total of 2 303 full-
time school counselors were appointed.

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The school counseling in Malaysia

• Today, the focus of guidance and counseling services in schools

has changed from the three areas (academic, career, and
psychosocial) to the following: (1) personality development; (2)
discipline; (3) career education; and (4) psychosocial and mental
health. Counselors need to design activities and intervention
services that can instill moral values and good discipline among
students. Also, counselors need to coordinate activities that can
promote socialization, emotional management and positive
thinking among students. Among the activities that can be
organized are administration of student profile, preventive
education, consultation with parents, individual and group
counseling and dissemination of information.

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