The recent school shooting in Tacloban City that killed three students have highlighted the dire need for additional intervention among students who suffer from bullying and mental conditions.
As part of efforts to address this need, the Department of Education (DepEd) is hiring 436 new counselor associates for public schools in Eastern Visayas this year.
“Counselors in DepEd schools are critically important because they safeguard students’ mental health, guide career development and ensure child protection. They are legally mandated professionals who act as first responders to issues like depression, bullying and family conflict, making them essential pillars of holistic education,” DepEd Eastern Visayas regional information officer Jasmin Calzita told local media.
Limited resources have currently strained the burden on the 38 existing counselors working in Eastern Visayas' schools - far from the 2,153 counselors it needs to meet the global standard of one counselor for 250 students.
The region has only 38 existing counselors. With the hiring of 436 personnel this year, the region still needs 1,679 to fill the gap for its 1,152,614 students.
The DepEd regional office started the recruitment process after the approval of Qualification Standards (QS) for new counselor posts.
Under Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 2600920, the commission approved the QS for the positions of school division counselor, school counselor I to IV and school counselor associate I to V.
This is in adherence with the Republic Act 12080 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act.
Signed into law on Dec. 6, 2024, the measure creates specialized positions within the Department of Education, including school division counselors, school counselors and school counselor associates.
The law also mandates the establishment of care centers in every public basic education school to provide direct counseling services, preventive mental health programs, and mental health first aid.
(With report from PNA)
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