Guidance services in education sector are focused on support of education and training; provision of psychological, special-pedagogical, diagnostic, educational, guidance and preventive care; as well as provision of information from the area of career guidance for pupils. Guidance services are provided by:
- schools
- school facilities of educational counselling and prevention –
- centre of pedagogical and psychological counselling and prevention,
- centre of special pedagogical counselling.
Academic guidance
In schools, guidance services are provided mostly by an educational counsellor, and by a teacher-coordinator of prevention in the area of risk behaviour prevention.
The task of an educational counsellor is to provide guidance in solving personal, educational, professional and social needs of children, and career guidance.
If necessary, the educational counsellor will arrange pedagogical, psychological, social, psychoteherapeutical, re-educational and other services for children and their legal guardians, which coordinate in cooperation with class teachers. He/She closely cooperates with the school psychologist, school special pedagogue and experts from counselling facilities.
Study counselling services are also provided by school facilities of educational counselling and prevention.
Psychological counselling
Psychological counselling is provided to children, legal representatives and school employees in schools and school facilities by means of a school psychologist or a psychologist in order to develop their healthy personal development and mental health.
The basic components of education counselling and prevention system are facilities of educational, psychological and special pedagogical counselling and prevention.
Another components of education counselling and prevention system are:
- educational counsellor,
- school psychologist,
- school special pedagogue,
- medical pedagogue,
- social pedagogue,
- prevention coordinator.
Particular components of the system of educational counselling and prevention cooperates mainly with family, school, school facility, employers, public administration authorities and non- profit organisation.
Psychological counselling in pedagogical-psychological counselling and prevention centres
Pedagogical-psychological counselling and prevention centre provides complex psychological, special pedagogical, diagnostic, educational, counselling and prevention care for children, beside children with health disability.
The centre provides free services:
- to children from their birth to the end of their preparation for work,
- to parents and legal representatives,
- to pre-school, school and health care facilities,
- to other entities that apply for such services.
Pedagogical-psychological counselling and prevention centre can be divided into the following departments:
- counselling on personal development,
- counselling in educational development,
- counselling on social development and prevention,
- counselling in career development,
- psychotherapy,
- methodology of educational counselling,
- special pedagogical counselling.
Psychological counselling in special pedagogical counselling centres
Special pedagogical counselling centre provides professional services for children with disability, including children with development disorder, aiming to reach optimal development of their personality and social integration.
The centre provides services
- in a special-pedagogical counselling centre,
- in the family, school or school facility attended by the child, or
- in a form of a short-term stay in a special-pedagogical counselling centre.
- In addition to direct work with children, centres also provide counselling to their parents and methodical guidance for teachers and school special pedagogues working in schools.
Career guidance
Educational counsellors are teachers at primary and secondary schools and special schools (where appropriate in school facilities as well), which deal with pupils in problem solving situations, or guidance in professional career choice and also with parents.
Educational counsellors are professional consultants at schools, together with their pedagogical activity. They mediate interconnection of school with professional facilities and other facilities dealing with care for children.
Euroguidance provides support to educational counsellors in areas of European education mobility and organises trainings in European education policies.
Legislative references
National Council of the Slovak Republic, 2009. Act No. 184/2009 on vocational education and training and on the change and supplement to some acts (Zákon č. 184/2009 Z.z. o odbornom vzdelávaní a príprave a o zmene a doplnení niektorých zákonov v znení neskorších predpisov) (last accessed 03/06/2019).
National Council of the Slovak Republic, 2008. Act No. 245/2008 on education and training (Education Act) and on the change and supplement to some acts as amended by subsequent provisions (Zákon č. 245/2008 Z.z. o výchove a vzdelávaní (školský zákon) a o zmene a doplnení niektorých zákonov v znení neskorších predpisov) (last accessed 07/01/2020).