The Ministry of Education Promised to Increase Counseling Teachers... But Plans to Reduce Appointments Next Year

Reduction in Pre-Notified 'Counseling Teachers' Personnel
Conflicts with Policy to 'Expand Teacher Placement'
Assigned to Only 1 in 3 National and Public Elementary Schools
Ministry of Education "Requested Increase in Quota from Ministry of the Interior and Safety"

The Ministry of Education, which announced plans to expand the number of professional counseling teachers to help students in psychological and emotional crises and reduce the counseling burden on teachers, has been found to have reduced the number of counseling teachers in its preliminary announcement for next year's appointments. This has raised concerns that the workload may be concentrated on the existing counseling teachers.

According to the 'Preliminary Announcement of the 2025 Academic Year Public Kindergarten, Elementary, Secondary, Special, and Non-curricular New Teacher Appointment Examination Status' announced by the Ministry of Education on the 7th, the number of appointments for 'professional counseling teachers' was 155, a decrease of 169 from the final announcement the previous year. While the total number of preliminary announced appointments increased by 1,177, the numbers for professional counseling teachers as well as special education teachers, health teachers, nutrition teachers, and librarian teachers decreased.

This contradicts the Ministry of Education's plan announced around the same time to expand counseling functions in elementary and middle schools by increasing the placement of professional counseling teachers within schools. On the 9th, the Ministry announced the 'Student Customized Mental Health Integrated Support Plan,' which included plans to "expand the placement and strengthen the capabilities of counseling teachers in school Wee Classes." This plan aims to shift from a system where homeroom teachers solely handle students' psychological and emotional support to a system where counseling teachers, department heads, principals (and vice principals), and other school members share the responsibilities.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is announcing the flexible operation guidelines for medical school academics on the 10th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Currently, less than half of all national and public elementary and middle schools nationwide have counseling teachers assigned. According to data disclosed on the 15th on 'School Alimi,' as of this year, only 2,134 out of 6,229 national and public elementary schools nationwide?about one-third?have professional counseling teachers assigned. The remaining 4,095 schools have no counseling teachers. Among 2,646 middle schools, only about half, 1,487 schools, have counseling teachers, while 1,159 schools have none. As a result, schools without counseling teachers rely on dispatches from nearby counseling teachers or have to share counseling duties across multiple schools.

The Ministry of Education stated that to strengthen the capabilities of professional counseling teachers, it will temporarily utilize non-regular contract teachers outside the quota for schools without assigned counseling teachers. However, if counseling duties increase without increasing the number of professional counseling teachers, the burden on the existing dedicated counseling staff will inevitably grow.

The "Student Customized Mental Health Integrated Support Plan" announced by the Ministry of Education at the Social Relations Ministers' Meeting on the 9th. [Source: Ministry of Education]

A contract counseling teacher in Chungnam said, "The government said it would carry out mental support projects, but in the end, the counseling teachers are the ones who have to take charge," adding, "Currently, the number of students complaining of psychological difficulties such as panic disorder is increasing in schools." A counseling teacher candidate who requested anonymity also stated, "The Ministry of Education promotes that it cares about students' mental health, but in reality, the number of hires is limited."

In response, the Professional Counseling Teachers' Labor Union issued a statement on the 12th, saying, "If this continues, there will be almost no increase in the number of schools with professional counseling teachers after the 2025 appointments," and urged, "We strongly call for active expansion of professional counseling teacher placements to promote the mental health of all students."

The Ministry of Education explained that it plans to continue efforts to expand counseling teacher personnel. A Ministry of Education official said, "We will continue to strive to expand counseling teacher personnel," adding, "Basically, the Ministry's position is that counseling teachers should be present in all schools, and we plan to promote amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that include related provisions."