THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) issued a resolution setting the Qualification Standards (QS) for newly created school counselor positions in public schools to support the government's efforts to strengthen mental health services in basic education.
CSC Chairman Marilyn Yap stressed that the QS for 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) were pursuant to Republic Act 12080, or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act.
Yap said that the approved QS would help ensure that qualified mental health professionals are deployed in schools, reinforcing the government's commitment to promoting the mental health and overall well-being of Filipino learners.
"By approving these QS, the CSC supports the implementation of the law (RA 12080) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, which recognize the urgent need to provide accessible, quality, and responsive mental health services for learners,” the CSC chief said.
Yap emphasized that investing in the psychological well-being of the youth would also be an investment in building future public servants.
The top CSC official said in a statement that DepEd proposed the corresponding QS, which covers four standard dimensions — education, experience, training and eligibility — and submitted them to the CSC for approval.
For the Schools Division Counselor and School Counselor I to IV positions, applicants must possess a master's degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology and hold a valid professional license as a Guidance Counselor or Psychologist, according to the government’s central personnel agency.
Meanwhile, applicants for the School Counselor Associate I to V positions must have a bachelor's degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology, or any related bachelor's degree 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, it said.
They must also possess Career Service Professional eligibility with the required experience and training, which vary by position, it added.
