Culture & Entertainment · Philippines Bureau
DepEd to rapidly deploy 10,000 school counselors following shooting incidents
The Department of Education is accelerating recruitment of nearly 10,000 counselor associates to strengthen mental health support in schools. The initiative follows recent armed incidents on school campuses.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA—The Department of Education announced Thursday it is fast-tracking the deployment of approximately 10,000 school counselor associates to bolster psychological support services for learners nationwide.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the accelerated hiring process aims to expand the counseling workforce and provide students with accessible mental health and basic psychological support services. The move comes in response to recent shooting incidents reported at educational institutions.
The initiative represents a significant expansion of DepEd's school counseling infrastructure, which has historically faced shortages in many public schools across the country. Counselor associates are expected to assist students in managing emotional and behavioral concerns while complementing the work of licensed school psychologists and guidance counselors.
The department did not specify a timeline for the complete deployment of the new counselors or provide details on the recruitment process. Officials indicated that the accelerated deployment would prioritize schools identified as having the greatest need for enhanced mental health services.