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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DepEd eyes 10,000 counselor associates amid school safety concerns

DepEd eyes 10,000 counselor associates amid school safety concerns

Published Aug 27, 2026 04:21 pm

At A Glance

  • * DepEd plans to deploy 10,000 School Counselor Associates nationwide by year-end to provide mental health support to learners.
  • * Of the 10,000 positions, 9,702 have been posted: 785 are open for applications, 8,811 are under assessment, and 106 are awaiting appointment.
  • * Schools with documented bullying cases or high mental health needs will be prioritized, while DepEd has requested 5,000 additional positions.
(MB FILE PHOTO)
(MB FILE PHOTO)
Amid recent incidents of violence in schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) said it is targeting to deploy 10,000 School Counselor Associates (SCAs) nationwide by the end of the year to provide mental health support to learners.
The agency said it shortened its standard hiring process to 36 days after the Civil Service Commission (CSC) granted its approval on June 30, 2026, and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) created 10,000 plantilla items for SCA I on July 15, 2026.
“Under DepEd’s digital hiring portal, the Agile Gateway for Appointments and Placements (AGAP), as of August 27, 2026, 9,702 items have already been posted,” the department said in a statement.
Per DepEd, 785 positions are open for applications, 8,811 are undergoing assessment, and 106 are awaiting appointment.
“The remaining 298 positions are either awaiting issuance of Notice of Organization, Staffing and Compensation Action (NOSCA) or are yet to be posted,” it added.
The agency said candidate assessments and appointments are scheduled for completion, after which the newly hired counselor associates will immediately undergo onboarding for deployment to schools by year-end.
DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara stressed that keeping schools safe requires a comprehensive approach that combines mental health interventions with physical security measures.
“Keeping our schools safe is not just about building fences or installing metal detectors. It is also about making sure our learners have trusted, caring adults to talk to whenever they are going through tough times,” he said.
He said mental health needs must be addressed with the same urgency as emergency drills and physical safety checks.
“By speeding up the hiring of our School Counselor Associates, we are creating a stronger safety net for our children,” he went on.
According to DepEd, the SCA positions were established pursuant to Republic Act No. 12080, or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act of 2024, to provide frontline mental health and well-being services and assist school counselors.
It added that the 10,000 SCA I personnel will provide basic mental health and psychosocial support, conduct information and advocacy activities, and facilitate learner referrals. 
Angara said schools with documented bullying cases or high mental health needs will be prioritized for deployment.
Meanwhile, the agency said it has requested 5,000 additional SCA I positions through the scrap-and-build process, primarily by converting vacant guidance-related items.

Related Tags

DepEd School Counselor Associates mental health support Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act Juan Edgardo Angara school safety learner mental health
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