Low pay, exacting standards extend school guidance counselor shortage

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) said low salaries and stringent qualification requirements continue to hinder the hiring of licensed guidance counselors across the region.

Director Arturo Bayocot of DepEd-7 plantilla positions remain vacant not because of lack of budget but due to difficulty in attracting qualified applicants.

“Sadly,nagmumula kasi ang problema sa pag-hire,” Bayocot said at the Kapihan sa PIA on Tuesday, July 7.

READ: School violence stems from multiple risks — psychologists

(Sadly, the problem starts with the hiring process.)

He explained that applicants must first earn a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling before they can take the licensure examination for guidance counselors, unlike most professions that only require a bachelor’s degree before taking a board exam.

Even after obtaining a license, many professionals choose not to work in public schools because the salary offered by DepEd is comparable to that of a Teacher I position.

A check by CDN Digital showed that as of 2026, that corresponds to Salary Grade 11, which means a gross monthly pay of ₱31,705 or net take-home monthly salary of around ₱26,80.08.

READ: Amid student violence reports, NBI-7 bares school safety drive

“When these guidance counselors are in, ang problema naman they are not attracted to the salaries offered by DepEd because the DepEd salary is not commensurate with their qualifications,” Bayocot said.

(Once they become licensed guidance counselors, the problem is that they are not attracted to the salaries offered by DepEd because the pay is not commensurate with their qualifications .)

12 of 71 posts filled in Bohol

Bayocot cited Bohol as an example, where only 12 of 71 guidance counselor positions have been filled despite the available plantilla items.

In Cebu City, he said 42 guidance counselor positions are available, but only 11 have been filled.

“It’s not a question of budget. It’s a question of no one applying,” he said.

The shortage comes as schools continue to review their mental health programs following growing concerns over students’ well-being and reports of student violence.

Earlier, CDN Digital reported that Cebu City is proposing the creation of a permanent Mental Health Council and a Parents Academy to improve students’ mental health by strengthening family support, training teachers and parents, and developing school-based mental health interventions.

City officials also said only 11 registered guidance counselors serve around 120 public elementary and high schools in Cebu City, forcing some teachers to perform counseling duties despite lack of specialized training.

Higher salary grades

To address the problem, Bayocot said DepEd has proposed upgrading guidance counselor positions from Guidance Counselor I to higher classifications, a move expected to improve compensation and attract more licensed professionals.

The department has also requested the creation of 14,000 additional guidance counselor positions, a proposal under consideration at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“The only way to attract licensed guidance counselors is really to elevate the minimum qualification standards requirements  and also give commensurate pay,” Bayocot said.

While waiting for more licensed counselors to join public schools, Bayocot said DepEd continues to train teachers in psychological first aid and strengthen teaching of values education and Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) to help address students’ behavioral and emotional needs.

He stressed that preventing violence in schools begins with developing students’ values and behavior, adding that schools remain committed to promoting a safe and supportive learning environment.

READ: Video games ‘scapegoat’ for school violence, says Aquino

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Read Next

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.