In my view, counselling is not the primary role of a teacher, but teachers should still have basic counselling skills. In many schools, especially in contexts affected by conflict or displacement, professional counsellors are not always available. Because teachers interact with students daily, they are often the first to notice emotional or behavioural difficulties. For this reason, teachers should be able to provide initial support by listening carefully, showing empathy, and guiding students to reflect on their feelings and actions.

However, I think there are also risks if teachers take on too much responsibility without proper training. Teachers might misunderstand a student’s emotional situation or unintentionally give advice that is not appropriate. In more serious situations, students may require professional psychological support that teachers are not trained to provide.

In my context, schools usually do not have professional counsellors. Teachers often try to support students through conversation, encouragement, and building trust. In the future, it would be very helpful if teachers could receive short training on basic counselling skills such as active listening, empathy, and effective questioning. It would also be beneficial if schools could connect with external organisations or professionals who can provide specialised support when needed.