The Education and Training Department of the southern province of Dong Nai held a seminar on school psychology on June 12 with a view to increasing psychological consultation for students at schools.

Pupils join a cooking class at school (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Hoang Mai Lan, vice rector of the Tam Hiep senior high school in Bien Hoa city, said students undergoing adolescence without adults’ advices and guidance are likely to lose direction in life and trust in others, and behave negatively. 

She said her school ran a survey on student behaviour and found that many did not have confidence in themselves.

The Tan Hiep high school has held talks on school violence, gender, and career orientation, and set up a psychological consultation room to offer psychological consultation for students. 

Le Minh Cong, deputy head of the provincial association of psychological education science, said many local schools have established consultation teams, but as members are mostly teachers, these groups cannot solve all problems and their main function remains at prevention level. 

In recent years, a number of school piloted more professional groups with the involvement of specialists, which proved to be more effective and suitable to local conditions.

Dong Nai has 30 out of 68 high schools and 100 percent of primary and secondary schools establishing consultation groups. 

The provincial Department of Education and Training said it is paying attention to the matter and will direct school to review the operation of their psychological  teams.

The agency plans to work with universities to give training to local teachers on the issue. 

It will also invite more experienced psychologists to visit local schools, training teachers and offering advice to students.-VNA