Guidance and counselling in Cyprus : multiple roles, challenges and achievements

Abstract

This chapter sets out to provide an overview of the career guidance and counselling field in Cyprus. It first of all describes service providers in the education sector. Here, school counsellors have to face a number of challenges given the multiple roles they are required to fulfil. They are not only concerned with work that is normally associated with guidance and counselling, such as seeing students individually and in groups and administering and interpreting tests, but are also tasked with dealing with a range of duties that are more managerial in nature. Despite becoming increasingly qualified, skilled and professional, Cypriot school counsellors find themselves in a constant battle with time, in an effort to give students a better service. Such efforts are strongly supported by the Career Education Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture, where, in the context of a small state, it makes sense to have a central unit that promotes the professionalisation of the field through training programmes and resource development. The chapter also details other guidance service providers in Cyprus, including those for youth and adult job seekers in both the public and private sector. The Youth Board, the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance, and District Career Counselling Centres are also making a significant contribution in implementing a national strategic plan for the field, elaborated in response to the recommendations of an external evaluation team.