Training and Courses for Counsellors Deployed to Schools

Dr Shahira Abdullah asked the Minister for Education (a) what are the reasons behind the Ministry’s decision to deploy counsellors who have not attended programmes that are fully certified by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC) as training for registered counsellors; (b) how does the Ministry assess the adequacy of training provided under NIE’s Diploma in School Counselling programme vis-à-vis the national competency assessment framework for counsellors; and (c) whether there are plans to gradually upskill all school counsellors to attend fully certified and recognised programmes by SAC and qualify as a registered counsellor.

MOE recruits both trained and untrained applicants for School Counsellors (SC). Untrained applicants undergo the Diploma in School Counselling (DSC) programme conducted by the National Institute of Education (NIE) before they are deployed as SCs in the schools. The DSC programme is specially designed for school counselling to equip the trainees to work effectively and meet the needs of our children and youths in the educational setting.

NIE has a wealth of knowledge and experience in research and training in counselling psychology within the school context. They have been offering the Master of Arts (Counselling and Guidance) programme since early 2000, which is recognised by professionals and the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC).

Counsellors in Singapore are not required to register with SAC as it is not an accreditation or licensure body. MOE too does not require School Counsellors to register with SAC. Registration is voluntary.