General articles are free for 24 hours after publish.
DepEd Shortens School Counselor Hiring to 30 Days Amid Bullying Concerns
The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines has drastically shortened the hiring process for school counselors from the usual three to four months to approximately 30 days, in response to concerns over bullying and school violence. The announcement was made during the deliberation of the 2027 budget, with reports also highlighting the strengthening of Child Protection Committees. As a measure against the current situation identified by EDCOM 2 as the "bullying capital of the world," the agency also plans to train teachers in schools lacking guidance counselors.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has significantly shortened the hiring process for school counselor associates from the usual three to four months to approximately 30 days, as part of efforts to bolster measures against bullying and school violence. Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced this on Monday during the House Committee on Appropriations hearing on DepEd's proposed 2027 budget, in response to lawmakers' inquiries regarding child protection measures. Angara presented DepEd's proposed budget of P975.96 billion for 2027, detailing that under the new Mental Health and Well-being Law, the agency is ramping up hiring. He stated that the HR department, led by Willie Capa, found ways to expedite the process, reducing it to nearly 30 days. This move is aimed at strengthening support systems in schools amidst rising concerns over bullying, harassment, and school violence. Furthermore, Angara reported a substantial increase in the number of schools with functioning Child Protection Committees, mandated by the Anti-Bullying Law, with over 36,000 schools now having these committees operational. However, Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña raised concerns, citing findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) that identified the Philippines as the "bullying capital of the world." He questioned DepEd's strategies to combat bullying and harassment within schools. In response, Angara indicated that DepEd is also looking into training teachers in schools that lack guidance counselors to handle such issues, while acknowledging that teachers should not bear the entire burden of students' mental health concerns. Additionally, Angara confirmed that DepEd has achieved 100% designation of Learning Formation Officers in all its schools, as required by the implementing rules of the Anti-Bullying Act. The department is enhancing its mental health approach by expanding the presence of school counselor associates, guidance counselor associates, and guidance counselors where available. Source: GMA News Philippines
Original source
GMA News Philippines