PH faces crisis as 4,400 vacant guidance counselor roles imperil anti-bullying efforts
PHOTO by The EdLines.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is struggling to fill more than 4,400 guidance counselor vacancies across the country, putting anti-bullying initiatives at risk, according to recent government data.
The shortage is stark. This information comes from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which highlighted the disparity in a report.
There are 4,460 unfilled guidance counselor positions, while only 251 graduates from relevant programs entered the workforce between 2018 and 2021.
“Probably we have to go beyond the promotion of [a master’s degree in guidance and counseling], because the profession itself is becoming unappealing in light of its current status and salary grade,” said Dexter Galban, DepEd assistant secretary for operations.
Entry-level counselors, who must complete a Master’s degree and pass a licensure exam, earn a starting salary of P27,000 per month, which is salary grade 11.
Regions such as Mimaropa and Eastern Visayas are particularly affected. Mimaropa has 164 vacancies and Eastern Visayas has 297 vacancies, yet there were no graduates in these regions from 2018 to 2021.
Meanwhile, Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN) recorded only four graduates during the same period, but currently has 211 open positions.
The shortage has forced some schools to assign teachers to perform the role of guidance counselors, despite this being against Republic Act 9258, or the Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004.
This law mandates that only licensed professionals can provide guidance and counseling services. However, the law has not been strictly implemented due to the shortage of qualified professionals.
EDCOM 2 noted, “This poses a big concern regarding the supply of professionals who could help address or provide relevant services on bullying and mental health in schools.”
The lack of qualified guidance counselors hampers efforts to provide critical mental health support and combat bullying, which is a significant issue in the country’s schools.
The crisis underlines a need for reforms to make the profession more attractive, including better pay and more incentives for students to pursue careers in guidance and counseling.
Without these changes, the gap between vacancies and qualified professionals is likely to widen, affecting the quality of student support services nationwide.
