Philippines launches hiring drive for 10,000 school counselors to strengthen student mental health

The Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) has opened a nationwide recruitment campaign for 10,000 School Counselor Associate I positions. The hiring push follows new qualification standards approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) under Republic Act No. 12080, the Basic Education Mental Health and Well‑Being Promotion Act, which mandates dedicated psychological services in public schools.

The initiative seeks to close a severe staffing gap – only about 4,069 counselors were serving roughly 27.4 million elementary and secondary students in 2022, a ratio of one counselor per 6,700 students versus the international benchmark of 1:250. New recruitment will use the Agile Gateway for Appointments and Placements (AGAP) system, with physical kiosks at Schools Division Offices to assist applicants lacking internet access. Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted that the counselors will provide essential mental‑health services, learner support, documentation, and referrals, aiming to improve campus safety after a series of violent incidents involving minors.