Para marami mag-apply: Lawmaker seeks raise in guidance counselors’ pay

By Billy Begas

Public schools in the country need 4,300 guidance counselors, according to Anakalusugan Rep. Michael Defensor.

Defensor said the Department of Education (DepEd) has 5,398 authorized positions for guidance counselors but 80% or 4,302 of the positions remain vacant due to low pay.

“Congress should fix the problem by bumping up the pay for the entry level position of Guidance Counselor I by 53 percent, or by five notches, from Salary Grade (SG) 11 to SG 16,” Defensor said.

SG 11 is equivalent to P23,877 monthly pay while SG 16 is P36,628.

Defensor also said that the salary for the highest position of Guidance Services Specialist IV should be upgraded from SG 22 (P68,415) to SG 23 (P76,907).

“Once we raise the pay grades, the DepEd will be able to attract more applicants for guidance counselors, including those from the ranks of qualified teachers laid off on account of the closure of hundreds of private schools,” Defensor said.

Under existing guidelines, a school guidance counselor must at least be a licensed professional teacher with a master’s degree.

“There’s no question many students are having a hard time coping with remote modular as well as online learning, mainly due to the lack of social interaction,” Defensor said. “We need more guidance counselors to reach out and listen to students who may feel isolated and need encouragement to complete assigned tasks.”

Defensor also said that at least 4,488 teachers lost their jobs after 865 private elementary and high schools shut down its operation due to poor enrolment turnout and their inability to comply with the DepEd’s requirements for the conduct of distance learning.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)