Jamaine Punzalan

Parents and guardians wait at the entrance of the H.J. Atienza Elementary School in Baseco, Tondo, Manila on Monday, June 8, 2026.

Article (news)

SCHOOL OPENING

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178833288338120260608-school-opening-baseco-JC0121.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Parents and guardians wait at the entrance of the H.J. Atienza Elementary School in Baseco, Tondo, Manila on Monday, June 8, 2026.  </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday said there was a shortage of licensed guidance counselors as it moved to hire thousands of counselor associates amid concerns over learners’ psychological well-being following the recent violent incidents in schools. </p><p>In a forum in Manila, DepEd Undersecretary Malcolm Garma said the agency received 10,000 items for school counselor associates, who are required to be psychology graduates with training in behavioral science.</p><p>“Medyo may challenge po tayo in terms of hiring guidance counselor kasi ito po ‘yong licensed talaga, talagang rehistrado. Kulang po talaga ‘yong suplay natin. So, what we did is that we relied on the amendment of the law wherein we can somehow downgrade the item called ‘registered guidance counselor’ to a ‘school counselor associate,’” Garma said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/26/15-000-school-counselor-associates-to-be-hired-before-end-of-2026-2226">15,000 school counselor associates to be hired before end of 2026</a></div><p>With more than 45,000 public schools nationwide, Garma said the 10,000 new hires would be prioritized for deployment in “hotspots” where violence had been recorded, usually in bigger schools in urban areas.</p><p>“We will be asking for more because that 10,000 definitely will not be enough for the more than 45,000 schools that we have,” Garma said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/beyond-school-security-angara-urges-communities-to-check-in-on-students-1530">Beyond school security: Angara urges communities to check in on students</a><br/><a href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/news/nation/2026/9/2/deped-school-safety-drill-to-proceed-without-active-shooter-reenactment-1327">DepEd school safety drill to proceed without active-shooter reenactment</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/8/19/school-shooting-psychiatrist-warns-of-copycat-risk-lists-possible-warning-signs-1155">School shooting: Psychiatrist warns of copycat risk, lists possible &#x27;warning signs&#x27;</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/infRvWMY0PM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday said there was a shortage of licensed guidance counselors as it moved to hire thousands of counselor associates amid concerns over learners’ psychological well-being following the recent violent incidents in schools.</p>

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday said there was a shortage of licensed guidance counselors as it moved to hire thousands of counselor associates amid concerns over learners’ psychological well-being following the recent violent incidents in schools.

DepEd notes shortage of licensed school counselors as it fills 10,000 associate posts

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DepEd notes shortage of licensed school counselors as it fills 10,000 associate posts

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 02, 2026 03:12 PM PHT

Read More:

guidance counselor

DepEd

Malcolm Garma

education

psychology

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