By Mariela Angella Oladive
The Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas is grappling with a significant shortage of guidance counselors, with 476 positions remaining vacant due to high qualifications and relatively low pay.
Dr. Ramir Uytico, DepEd-6 regional director, explained that the lack of applicants stems from the requirement of a master’s degree and the unattractive salary.
“There are available positions for guidance counselors, but there are no takers because the qualifications require a master’s degree. This is one of the reasons why many positions remain unfilled—there are no applicants, and the salary is not that high,” Uytico said during the recent Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum.
This shortage has forced school principals to designate classroom teachers to take on guidance counseling duties, in addition to their regular teaching responsibilities.
“It would be better if we could appoint qualified individuals to these vacant positions,” Uytico added.
Currently, only 36 registered guidance counselors hold plantilla positions in Western Visayas, a figure far below the region’s needs.
Congress is currently discussing potential solutions, including raising the salary for guidance counselors and revising qualification requirements to attract more applicants.
The shortage is particularly concerning given the crucial role guidance counselors play in addressing student issues like bullying and preventing self-harm.
“Last year, we recorded several cases of suicide and attempted suicide, including one student who jumped from a building but thankfully survived,” shared DepEd-6 Regional Information Officer Hernani Escular Jr.
Escular emphasized the importance of filling the guidance counselor roles, noting their significance in preventing such incidents.
“Their role is crucial in avoiding these incidents, especially in today’s digital age,” he said.
To address these gaps, DepEd-6 has launched several mental health programs aimed at supporting both students and education leaders. These initiatives include psychological first aid training workshops in partnership with the Western Visayas State University College of Medicine, the WVSU Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Health (DOH) – Western Visayas Center for Health and Development.
In addition, a series of virtual health talks have been conducted to equip schools with resources to support student well-being, even in the absence of fully staffed guidance counselor offices.
Uytico also highlighted the importance of addressing teachers’ mental health, as they often juggle multiple responsibilities, including student welfare. While mental health training sessions for teachers have been conducted in collaboration with the DOH, there is no formal mental health program specifically for teaching personnel.
He urged parents and communities to stay involved in their children’s mental health, stressing that the responsibility doesn’t rest solely with schools.
“Parents need to be proactive in checking in on their children and fostering open dialogue at home,” he said.
In addition to the guidance counselor vacancies, DepEd-6 faces a 29% vacancy rate for teaching positions, with 616 of 2,151 new teaching posts unfilled for Fiscal Year 2024. Iloilo and Negros Occidental have the highest number of vacancies, with 41% of teaching positions in Iloilo and 48% in Negros Occidental remaining unfilled.
Non-teaching positions also have a high vacancy rate, with 508 of 768 new roles unfilled, leaving a 66% vacancy across the region.
