PUBLIC schools are a step closer to hiring guidance and mental health professionals after the Civil Service Commission (CSC) approved the qualification standards for newly created school counselor positions.
The standards, approved through CSC Resolution 2600920 promulgated on June 30, cover the plantilla positions of Schools Division Counselor, School Counselor I to IV, and School Counselor Associate I to V in the Department of Education (DepEd).
The move supports the implementation of Republic Act N12080, or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which requires the establishment of Mental Health and Well-Being Offices in public basic education institutions.
CSC Chairperson Marilyn B. Yap said the approved qualification standards will help ensure that schools are staffed with qualified mental health professionals.
‘By approving these QS, the CSC supports the implementation of RA 12080 and its implementing rules [IRR], which recognize the urgent need to provide accessible, quality, and responsive mental health services for learners,’ Yap said.
‘Investing in the psychological well-being of our youth is also an investment in building future public servants who embody puso, dangal, at galing,’ she added.
The qualification standards, proposed by the DepEd, cover the education, experience, training and eligibility requirements for the newly created positions.
Applicants for Schools Division Counselor and School Counselor I to IV positions must possess a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology and hold a valid professional license as a Guidance Counselor or Psychologist.
Required experience and training will vary depending on the position level.
Meanwhile, applicants for School Counselor Associate I to V positions must have a bachelor’s degree in Guidance and Counseling, Psychology, or a related field with at least 18 units in Behavioral Science, including 200 hours of supervised practicum or internship in guidance and counseling, preferably in a school or community setting.
They must also possess Career Service Professional Eligibility, while the required experience and training will likewise depend on the position level.
The CSC said the approved qualification standards will serve as the basis for attesting appointments and evaluating other human resource actions involving the new school counselor positions in the DepEd.