The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines is actively seeking to fill approximately 4,000 guidance counselor positions in public schools across the nation. This initiative, announced by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, aims to bolster mental health support for students. Currently, there is a significant shortfall in the number of professionals equipped to address students’ mental health needs.
In an effort to attract more qualified candidates, DepEd is considering reclassifying the pay grades for these positions. Specifically, the proposal would elevate the starting salary from Salary Grade 11, which currently stands at P28,512 per month, to Salary Grade 13, where the starting salary would be P32,870. This adjustment is part of a broader strategy to make these roles more appealing, particularly for individuals who possess a master’s degree.
Angara, who recently assumed his role as the new education chief, pointed out that stringent requirements have historically limited the pool of eligible applicants. Under existing regulations, only those with a master’s degree in guidance and counseling can qualify for these positions. However, DepEd is exploring avenues to potentially allow individuals with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or related fields to also qualify. This would be on the condition that they commit to completing their master’s degree within five years.
Despite these efforts, Angara expressed concern about the potential vulnerability of unlicensed guidance counselors under this new arrangement, as they might be replaced by licensed professionals in the future.
In parallel to these recruitment efforts, Angara reminded educational institutions of their responsibility to maintain and enforce anti-bullying policies. This reminder comes in the wake of reports from DepEd’s annual monitoring, which recorded 7,742 cases of bullying in the 2022 to 2023 school year. These incidents range from physical and social bullying to cyber and gender-based harassment.
The need for more guidance counselors is underscored by various studies indicating that bullying is prevalent, particularly in public schools with larger class sizes and among students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. A recent study from De La Salle University and the Second Congressional Commission on Education noted that bullying is a common challenge that needs to be addressed urgently.
Moreover, Angara has initiated steps to promote career advancement for public school teachers by signing the implementing rules for the “career progression policy” which creates new positions from Teacher IV to Teacher VII, offering salaries between P35,000 and P45,000. This policy reflects DepEd’s commitment to not only improving the welfare of students but also enhancing the professional development of educators.
As DepEd continues to implement these changes, the focus remains firmly on improving the educational environment for all students by ensuring they have access to qualified mental health professionals and supportive teachers.
