Sources of Islamic Counselling Knowledge among School Guidance and Counselling Teachers

Sumber Pengetahuan Kaunseling Islam Dalam Kalangan Guru Bimbingan Dan Kaunseling

Abstract

This study investigates the sources of acquisition, application, and evaluation of Islamic counselling knowledge among school-based Guidance and Counselling Teachers (GBK) in Malaysian secondary schools. In contrast to prior research that predominantly centred on institutions of higher learning or broader community contexts, this study focuses on the actual practices of GBK within the multi-ethnic and multicultural framework of the national education system. Employing a qualitative methodology through a multi-site case study design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 GBK practitioners registered with the Malaysian Board of Counsellors (LKM), each with at least five years of professional experience. Thematic analysis, supported by NVivo 12 software, was used to structure and interpret the data. Findings reveal that informal learning avenues such as short-term courses, religious seminars, self-directed reading, and mentorship from Islamic scholars constitute the primary sources of knowledge, whereas formal education merely provides introductory exposure. These informal practices, however, operate without consistent regulatory oversight or engagement with classical turāth texts, giving rise to epistemological tensions in which Islamic elements are appended to Western frameworks rather than positioned as the primary hermeneutic lens. The study proposes the development of a professional training model anchored in the Islamic hierarchy of knowledge, contributing to the reform of counsellor education policies within Malaysia’s public education sector.