Time for Primary Schools to Have Guidance and Counselling Teachers
Primary education is a crucial stage in a child’s life. At this level, students begin to shape their character, develop social skills, recognise their potential, and learn to face various challenges in the school environment. Therefore, schools are not only tasked with providing academic knowledge but are also responsible for supporting the development of students’ personalities and mental health. One effort that can be made is to introduce Guidance and Counselling (BK) teachers in primary schools.
Until now, many people still assume that BK teachers are only tasked with handling students who violate school rules or have behavioural problems. This assumption is inaccurate because guidance and counselling services are actually intended for all students. BK teachers play an important role in helping students understand themselves, develop their talents and interests, increase their motivation to learn, and guide them in facing various problems that arise during the educational process.
The changing times have brought rapid shifts to children’s lives. The use of digital technology, social media, and various environmental influences present new challenges for primary school students. Many children experience difficulty controlling their emotions, lack self-confidence, suffer from bullying, struggle to adapt to peers, and even show a decline in their enthusiasm for learning. Such conditions require appropriate support so as not to hinder their development.
On the other hand, classroom teachers have enormous responsibilities in managing learning, compiling administration, conducting assessments, and guiding all students in the class. With so many tasks, not all student problems can be handled in depth. The presence of a BK teacher is a much-needed complement to provide professional guidance services so that every student receives attention according to their needs.
BK teachers in primary schools should be present as friendly, open companions who can be a place for students to express their feelings and the difficulties they experience. Through planned guidance services, children can learn to manage emotions, build self-confidence, resolve conflicts well, and develop mutual respect for others. This approach can also prevent various problems that could potentially disrupt the students’ learning process.
In addition to providing services to students, BK teachers also have an important role in establishing cooperation with classroom teachers and parents. Good communication between the school and the family will help to understand the students’ conditions more comprehensively. Thus, various issues faced by children can be identified early and addressed through appropriate measures so that their development continues optimally.
The presence of BK teachers is also in line with the national education goals, which focus not only on academic achievement but also on the formation of students’ character, attitudes, and life skills. Values such as honesty, responsibility, discipline, mutual cooperation, care, and self-confidence need to be instilled from an early age through continuous guidance. BK teachers have a strategic role in helping schools realise these goals.
It is time for the presence of Guidance and Counselling teachers in primary schools to become a concern for the government, educational institutions, and the community. The presence of BK teachers is not merely a complement to the school structure but a real necessity to support the holistic growth and development of students. Indonesian children have the right to receive educational services that not only develop intellectual abilities but also build strong character, good mental health, and the ability to face life’s challenges in the future.
Through the presence of BK teachers in primary schools, it is hoped that every student will have the opportunity to develop according to their potential. Schools will become safer, more comfortable environments that support the learning process, thereby producing a generation that is intelligent, has character, and is ready to face the times. Therefore, it is time for primary schools to have Guidance and Counselling teachers as an important part of realising quality education centred on students’ needs.