Although no global ratio exists, recognised benchmark for effective emotional support is one professional for every 250 students
PETALING JAYA: Many Malaysian schools have one counsellor for 400 to 500 students, raising concerns about the quality and accessibility of mental health support for students.
The commonly recognised benchmark for effective school-based emotional support is one counsellor for every 250 students.
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia registered counsellor Dr Farhana Sabri said while there is no universal global ratio, the 1:250 guideline is widely used in professional counselling frameworks, including those recommended by the American School Counsellor Association.
“If we look at practices in developed countries like the United States, they maintain a ratio of 1 counsellor to 376 students due to resource limitations.
“But in Malaysia, the reality is that many school counsellors are each responsible for 400 to 500 students.
“In such conditions, it becomes very difficult for a counsellor to truly provide enough time and emotional space for every student,” she told theSun.
Malaysia currently has about 12,000 registered counsellors nationwide, according to data from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
Farhana said this is not enough if the goal is to embed counselling support meaningfully in all schools.
“If we are serious about student emotional wellbeing, we need about 24,000 counsellors, and they need to be full-time and registered counsellors, not counsellors who are also handling administrative or disciplinary work.”
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) psychologist Prof Dr Siti Aisyah Panatik agreed that 24,000 counsellors are needed for schools.
“When a counsellor is responsible for too many students, the support becomes superficial. Counselling requires continuity and rapport. Without time, meaningful emotional work cannot happen.”
Siti Aisyah said the practice of assigning administrative duties to counsellors further reduces the time available for providing emotional support.
“Workload and bureaucracy hinder the capacity of counsellors to build meaningful, trusting relationships with students, provide continuous, individualised care and implement preventive mental health programmes effectively.
“To restore the balance, Malaysia must reclaim the professional identity of the counsellor as a psychological helper, not a paperwork handler.
“Only then can schools evolve into truly supportive environments that nurture the emotional resilience and holistic wellbeing of students.”
On the preference of students for external counsellor services, UTM psychology officer Dr Zulfikar Ahmad said the emotional environment at home is one of the key factors to influence whether students seek help in school.
“They are afraid what they say will be reported, judged or held against them. This concern is stronger in cases involving bullying, harassment, sexual behaviour or family conflict. Students worry that their situation will not remain private.
“When confidentiality is not clearly understood, students assume that whatever they share will spread. That perception alone is enough to stop them from seeking help.
“If emotional expression is never encouraged at home, counselling will feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
“A student who has not learned how to talk about feelings will not know how to begin in a school setting.”
On Thursday, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the 12,583 registerd counsellors in the country are insufficient to meet rising mental health needs.
She added that many students now feel more comfortable confiding in external counsellors due to fear of disciplinary repercussions in school.
Nancy also said the National Counselling Service Plan 2025–2035, currently being drafted, would strengthen standards.
