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12th February, 2010
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah lacks qualified counsellors, a seminar on counselling education revealed.
According to Haji Darus Nasir, group education development manager from the Yayasan Sabah Group, it was highlighted during a one-day seminar held at Menara Tun Mustapha yesterday that this was especially so in primary and secondary schools.
Darus said there were not many student counsellors in primary schools in the State, and that the situation was ‘much worse’ in secondary schools, and government and private organisations were not exempted as well.
He was speaking after the closing of the ‘Counselling Education II’ seminar organised by the Yayasan Sabah Group with the collaboration of UMS at the Menara Tun Mustapha yesterday.
The seminar, themed “Excellent Practice in the Helping Profession”, was attended by 330 people from the teaching and counselling professions as well as students. Its objective was to impart the latest teachings and information on counselling to participants.
Topics included motivational interviewing and counselling methods, obstacles and limitations in counselling and regulations pertaining to counselling, with contributions by guest speakers from the Health Department, State Education Department, Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM), and Pasukan Polis Di Raja Malaysia (PDRM).
Dr. Johan Arriffin Datuk Haji Abdul Samad, deputy director of Yayasan Sabah Group, who officiated the seminar’s closing ceremony said he hoped the input gleaned from the seminar would encourage participants to apply the teachings at work.
In addition, counsellors should also have the initiative to improve their work standard in order to provide clients with quality service, said Dr. Johan.
He added that in line with Yayasan Sabah Group’s aspiration to develop human capital, it will continue to hold seminars on topics in parenting and education, socio-economy and socio-cultural, and career development, among others.
On underprivileged students, Dr. Johan said YSG will spend RM27 million on sponsoring education for 2,215 students this year.
Meanwhile, Darus said the seminar was organised every two years and in view of the tremendous response from the public this year, the seminar will be held annually beginning next year.
Darus also suggested a body be set up to address the lack of qualified counsellors in the State to the government.
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