Since always, the figure of educational counselor It was approached from the perspective of serving as a guide for making decisions that affected the student's future, such as advice on the best choice of studies to follow. Based on the profile -personal and academic- of the student, this professional made a plan of possible academic-work outings which were a good reference to consider. Likewise, it has traditionally collaborated closely with the Director of the School center for the study of the most problematic cases of indiscipline to impose expulsions and the adoption of correctional measures.
La evolution of the educational system, the profound socio-cultural changes, the change of roles in families, the appearance of new models of behavior and the new approach of young people to studies, among other factors, force the work of the counselor is multidisciplinary and very necessary in the centers, mainly in the case of those referred to Secondary Education, where the most difficult cases to manage occur given the stage of development and maturity of the students.
El counselor takes part in the study methodology applied in the center itself, participates actively in awareness campaigns and responsibility with the study, and maintains permanent contact with families and students, studying their personal situation and evaluating solutions that mainly benefit stability and balance of the minor. The counselor's work is reversed as a preventive action, facing, for example, avoid school failure, detect learning difficulties, contribute to a psychological and affective-social improvement of the student and helping families to redirect the child's education based on the principles and rights of this towards a education in equality, justice and protection, attending to their needs.
El educational counselor They usually have a higher education in psychology and / or pedagogy, and should favor the quality of teaching, providing their support and advice, applying group work methods, collaborating in individual help and orientation programs, and always acting impartially.
Of Figure educational counselor in schools and institutes it was created quite recently, although years ago, when there was no educational counselor as such, there was always in every teaching center a teacher or tutor who was “in charge” of these tasks in order to guide and advise the student .
Next, we answer several questions regarding the role of the educational counselor and their mission at school.
What is an educational counselor?
An educational counselor is that person who provides a technical, personal and systematic service to the students of the educational center (school or institute) in which they are located, in order to help them know themselves: their possibilities, their limitations, their academic tastes, the future profession they want to practice, or the one for which is really qualified, etc. In this way, the student will be informed at all times, will have their own knowledge about him and his educational and personal situation and will know his environment, in order to make the appropriate decisions, achieving maximum personal, social and academic development, giving rise to the transition logical and natural from child to free and autonomous citizen.
What are the functions of the educational counselor?
Here are all the functions that an educational counselor can perform and carry out in a school or educational center:
- It should advise both to the students, as well as to the tutors and families, always in order to improve the educational qualities of the place and interpersonal relationships.
- It should identify educational needs of the students letting them know at all times so that they know their academic reality. Also, if you have Special educational needs, will advise him and his family on the steps to follow throughout his life as a student.
- It should collaborate with teachers and family in the prevention and detection of learning difficulties that the student presents. In this way, the student will have 100% personal and independent learning from the rest of the students.
- Although the student requires learning different from the rest, they must also ensure their educational continuity through the different areas, cycles and stages that make up the educational system.
- Must pay certain psychopedagogical counseling to the teaching staff and governing bodies of the center so that they have more educational tools to put into practice in their classes.
- Advise the teachers and other people on the School Council in the preparation, development and evaluation of the Plan attention to diversity, a document that all schools must have.
- Collaborate in the development of the innovation, research and experimentation processes that the educational center starts up, giving their point of view and advising again.
- Contribute to interaction among all members of the educational community (parents, teachers, custodians, students), for a good coexistence and greater communication among all.
- Having a Center Orientation Plan and the educational zone.
- Take part in all institutional and strategic plans, as well as in all teachers meetings that are established. In this way you will always be informed of the events that happen in the school or institute.
Should you heed the counselor's advice?
The educational counselor, as we have said before, has the duty to advise and guide, but we can ask ourselves the following question: To what extent can and should both a student and their parents or teachers heed their word?
Let us remember that an educational counselor has studied a university degree, just as a professor of any discipline has done. Therefore, he will have the knowledge and tools more than enough to be able to give advice or advice without fear of subsequent lawsuits. The counselor does not order, does not commandSimply advises and advises. The last word will always be the student or their parents.
What are the requirements to be a school counselor?
To be a school or educational counselor, the opposition of Pedagogy and Psychology, or failing that, having studied Teaching and then Psychopedagogy, and appear under that condition to said oppositions.
How to prepare a course or the competitive exams to be an educational counselor
The study of an opposition, whatever the subject, consists of studying hard, being persistent and be constant and more than enough motivation to spend about 5 hours of daily study. After this, each opposition has its agenda, and those of educational counselor were not going to be less. The current syllabus of Educational Counselor has 68 topics, which you may well prepare yourself by academy or by yourself, buying the syllabus and testing on your own.
The choice of one study system or another will have to be considered taking into account the available study time you have per day, the availability of good academies that you know close to your usual residence, if it takes into account the time you will spend on the journey back and forth, etc.
If you finally opt for academy, you will only have to worry about following the study script set in them and taking the exams that are given from time to time. If, on the other hand, you choose to prepare for these oppositions by yourself, you must organize planning weekly and monthly that you must comply scrupulously in order to comply with the study of all subjects arriving in time for the official exam.
As a last point we will say that free study requires greater sacrifice since you will not have anyone who is "pushing" you to study and meet the deadlines set as it would be in the case of an academy. You will depend solely on you, which can also be seen as an advantage, since you will be the only one to set your rhythms.
Hello, I wanted to know after finishing 6 years of economy what career I could follow
I just want to know what the counselor's services are and if the counselor's service and functions are the same.
tremendous topic, it has really been a great help to work with my students.
What interests me the most is whether a counselor has enough weight in an institution, to be able to advocate for a student who presents a difficulty within the educational establishment.
Good stuff
Hello. For your knowledge, in Venezuela there is the profile of the Educational Counselor is valued as a professional with a University degree, graduated from several Universities with a training of 5 years of academic preparation. The title awarded is Bachelor of Education. Mention Pedagogical Sciences. Orientation Area. In addition, he is trained to perform in different areas such as personal, family, academic, vocational, community, work, social-emotional, that is, he is a University Professional Educator-Pedagogue and Comprehensive Educational Counselor.
In Spain at the moment, to be a counselor, all you need is to do a master's degree in teacher training (with a specialty in counseling), for which Universities who have a degree in psychology, pedagogy or psychopedagogy, usually ask you, but you can be a biologist, get your master's degree after you do the opposition and live. This is because it is still to be regulated but it is complex to pass the oppositions only with the master's degree.
one of the best articles I have read, very clear, and it remains for me to say that being a counselor is not an easy thing, but because the work either personally or in a group is difficult in itself.