Philippines Deploys School Counselor Associates to Ease Guidance Counselor Shortage

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A recent school shooting in Tacloban City has highlighted the need for guidance counselors in schools, but the Philippines only has around 4,000 licensed guidance counselors, based on 2022 data. The severe shortage of guidance counselors is a critical problem amid the high prevalence of bullying in schools and concerns about students' mental health.

The Department of Education (DepEd) plans to deploy school counselor associates to over 45,000 public schools nationwide by September. Education Secretary Sonny Angara has said that the DepEd would compress the hiring process into 36 days, but experts say the solution may not address the underlying issue of the severe shortage of licensed guidance counselors.

Those qualified to become school counselor associates are graduates of a bachelor's degree in guidance and counseling or psychology or graduates of any bachelor's degree with at least 18 units of courses in guidance and counseling, psychology, or behavioral science. They must have 200 hours of supervised practicum or internship experience in guidance and counseling, preferably in a school or community setting.

Under the law, School Counselor Associates I to V have Salary Grades 11 to 15. School counselor associates cannot conduct counseling, which only licensed guidance counselors can do. They can assist with training and advocacy, learner profiling and documentation, initial assessment, and referrals.

The Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association (PGCA) welcomed the creation of the school counselor associate position, saying it is an "important investment" in expanding the school mental health system. However, the PGCA pointed out that the country still does not have enough guidance counselors. The PGCA called for a review of compensation, career progression, and retention policies for registered guidance counselors to encourage more professionals to enter and remain in the public school system.

The DepEd aims to start deploying school counselor associates to big schools, campuses with high bullying incidence, and those that have logged incidents of violence or threats to safety. Education Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral said they will prioritize the deployment of school counselor associates to these schools. The PGCA also stated that the creation of school counselor associates should be accompanied by equally vigorous efforts to recruit, retain, and develop registered guidance counselors.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has said that the DepEd would compress the hiring process into 36 days. The process will begin once the Department of Budget and Management issues a notice formally approving the creation of the position.

School counselor associates will not be able to conduct counseling, but they can assist with training and advocacy, learner profiling and documentation, initial assessment, and referrals. They can also hold orientations for learners, parents, and teachers, including awareness-raising programs to prevent and address bullying.

The DepEd can hire 10,000 school counselor associates, but the PGCA pointed out that the country still does not have enough guidance counselors. The PGCA called for a review of compensation, career progression, and retention policies for registered guidance counselors to encourage more professionals to enter and remain in the public school system.

The PGCA welcomed the creation of the school counselor associate position, saying it is an "important investment" in expanding the school mental health system. However, the PGCA pointed out that the country still does not have enough guidance counselors. The PGCA also stated that the creation of school counselor associates should be accompanied by equally vigorous efforts to recruit, retain, and develop registered guidance counselors.

Under the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed in December 2024, school counselor associates cannot conduct counseling, but they can assist with training and advocacy, learner profiling and documentation, initial assessment, and referrals.

The Philippines has been struggling with a severe shortage of guidance counselors for years. In 2022, there were around 4,000 licensed guidance counselors in the country. The high prevalence of bullying in schools and concerns about students' mental health have made it clear that there is a need for more guidance counselors in schools.