Schools now ensure they employ a psychologist on their staff.
The government's recent authorisation for psychologists and specialised technicians, such as speech therapists, social workers, and IT technicians, to become part of school staff is set to enhance the mental health, behavioural, and educational support services available to students within the school environment.
This initiative aims to provide comprehensive psychological and academic assessments, identify special needs, and collaboratively develop tailored educational programmes. The goal is to improve student well-being and academic outcomes.
The ministry's statement cites the need to ensure stability for these professionals and schools, and allows schools to determine the profile of the 576 specialised technicians to be hired based on the number of students and identified needs. The entry of 830 psychologists into the school staff will raise the total number of these professionals with a permanent link to 1,655.
The government's authorisation also reflects a policy priority to integrate mental health expertise directly into schools, increasing accessibility to these services and supporting educators in handling complex student needs on site. This approach aligns with broader educational and health priorities, including recruitment incentives and professional development aimed at boosting the number of qualified school psychologists to meet growing demands.
The impact of this move includes improved identification and support for students with special needs, enhanced collaboration among school staff, parents, and professionals, and increased capacity for schools to address mental health issues early, potentially reducing long-term educational and social difficulties.
Notably, this move ensures that all schools (groups or non-grouped schools) will have at least one psychologist on their staff. Currently, 182 schools do not have any psychologist on their staff. After the attachment competition, the average ratio of psychologists to students will be one for every 711 students, compared to the current ratio of one for every 1,472 students.
Until the competition is concluded and the links are changed, the contracts of the 984 specialised technicians with contracts of at least three consecutive contracts or two renewals will be renewed in September. This move is expected to provide a more stable and consistent environment for these professionals and schools, contributing to the overall well-being and success of students.
[1] Ministry of Education Statement [2] Mental Health Priorities in Education [3] Recruitment Incentives for School Psychologists [4] Professional Development for School Psychologists [5] Integration of Mental Health Expertise in Schools
- The integration of mental health expertise in schools, as stated in the Ministry of Education Statement, aligns with the priority of enhancing health-and-wellness, particularly mental health, for students, which also includes education-and-self-development.
- The government's authorisation, under the Mental Health Priorities in Education, will result in science-backed psychological and academic assessments, aimed at improving student well-being and academic outcomes, thereby supporting health-and-wellness, mental health, education-and-self-development.
