Counseling crisis looms

By Herman M. Lagon

Despite political instability and economic challenges, we have decent job opportunities and a respectable employment rate. However, this wealth of options often leaves students and job seekers needing clarification about their career paths. Career and personality guidance and assessment services become indispensable in such a landscape, particularly for public school students. Government support in this crucial area needs to be improved, leaving many young minds unguided.

Today, DepEd is having trouble filling 4,400 guidance counselor positions nationwide. This shortfall is significant, especially given the country’s rising bullying problem. The lack of school counselors hinders mental health support and bullying prevention, putting students’ well-being at risk.

Only 251 people, including myself, earned a Master’s in Guidance and Counseling from 2018 to 2021, compared to 4,460 vacancies in March 2024. This glaring mismatch highlights a significant supply gap in qualified professionals. The dearth of guidance counselors is not merely a numerical issue; it speaks volumes about this critical profession’s systemic neglect and undervaluation.

One major deterrent is the disparity between the high standards required to become a guidance counselor and the low salary offered. Entry-level guidance counselors–despite needing a Master’s degree and passing a grueling licensure exam–are assigned a salary grade of 11, which equates to just P27,000 per month. This unappealing compensation, juxtaposed with the rigorous qualifications, deters many potential candidates from pursuing this career path.

According to EDCOM 2 report, Mimaropa and Eastern Visayas have hundreds of openings but need graduates. Other regions, like SOCCSKSARGEN, have too few graduates for open positions. This mismatch forces schools to use unqualified teachers as guidance counselors, which violates Republic Act 9258, the Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004, but is necessary.

Despite the 2013 Anti-Bullying Act, school bullying has increased. These incidents are underreported due to a lack of registered guidance counselors. DepEd’s figures are consistently lower than international assessments, indicating a worse problem. According to the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), 65% of 15-year-olds in the country reported regular bullying, the highest percentage among 79 countries.

To improve policy responsiveness, EDCOM 2, a congressional committee tasked with identifying Philippine education system gaps, is reviewing the Anti-Bullying Act’s IRR. This review hopes to enhance bullying reporting and response to make students safer.

Comprehensive career guidance and assessment benefits include helping people understand their strengths, weaknesses, and interests to make informed career and personal choices. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and EQ-i reveal personality and emotional intelligence. They need to be more utilized, contributing to the career guidance crisis.

The 2019 Secondary School Career Guidance and Counseling Act was passed to improve high school career guidance. However, if not that poor, its implementation could have been better, leaving many students needing more support to make future decisions. Despite expectations, the National Secondary Schools Career Guidance and Counseling Program must still standardize and improve these services.

Teaching, informed peers, and parents are crucial career guides, especially in the face of government neglect. Teachers and guidance counselors provide mentorship and insights, while peers can relate. Despite their influence on children’s career and personal choices, parental involvement in career and crisis counseling is insufficient. Filling this gap requires involving parents and providing them with information.

Finances also limit students’ university and career choices. Many students and parents must be aware of government scholarships and financial aid. This lack of awareness perpetuates inequality and prevents students from pursuing their dreams, highlighting a significant career guidance service failure.

Career counseling’s availability and efficacy show a nation’s youth commitment. Because the government does not support these initiatives, many students need more tools and information to make decisions, especially in public and underprivileged schools. This situation must be corrected immediately to ensure every student receives career guidance, resulting in personal fulfillment and a more robust national economy.

Clearly, guidance counseling is plagued by a shortage of qualified professionals, regional disparities, low salaries, and high standards that deter candidates. Government, schools, and communities must work together to solve these problems. Better compensation, career guidance, and parental involvement are essential to solving this crisis.

We know that the future of Filipino youth is at stake as we navigate this complex issue. Lack of guidance and support will keep many students struggling with bullying, mental health issues, and career uncertainty. Hence, we must face these challenges head-on and with a sense of urgency. So far, there is no other better option to fix this looming counseling crisis than this.

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a ”student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.