Psychology graduates, take note. The Department of Education will soon be offering plantilla positions for school division counselors, school counselors and school counselor associates due to a new law that institutionalizes mental health programs in basic education.

Under the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which takes effect in 2025, public basic education schools will establish care centers that will provide counseling and stress management workshops and implement programs that will help reduce stigma on mental health.

The care centers, headed by a school counselor and assisted by school counselor associates, will provide counseling and stress management workshops and implement programs that will help reduce stigma on mental health.

“Dahil malawak ito, kailangang magbuo ng mga plantilla position at mag-hire ng mga school division counselors, school counselors at meron na tayong school counselor associates na nakalagay sa batas,” Education Usec. Gina Gonong said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview. 

“Inilagay ng batas natin, pwede na ‘yung mga graduate ng psychology o kaya guidance counseling na maging school counselor associates.. ‘Yung division at school counselors kailangan pasado sila mga licensure exam,” she added.

Gonong said government still needs to craft guidelines to create the plantilla positions.

She added the law will also elevate the salary grade of school counselors. “Tataas ang salary grade ng mga counselor. ‘Yung school division counselor, salary grade 24 parang chief supervisor, mga P43k/month,” she said.

Private schools are also mandated to establish care centers.

The education official noted students will have a hard time achieving academic success if they are facing mental health challenges. “Nakakatulong ang promotion ng mental health and well-being para gumanda ang academic performance ng mga estudyante at ng kanilang overall well being para makatulong na matupad ang pangarap nila sa buhay,” she said.