Moving to address a long-standing shortage in learner mental health services, Education Secretary Sonny Angara has spearheaded the official rollout for the nationwide recruitment of 10,000 School Counselor Associate I (SCA I) positions, marking a major milestone in the implementation of Republic Act (RA) No. 12080, or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-being Promotion Act.
The nationwide hiring follows the issuance of DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2026, which formally adopted the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) approved Qualification Standards (QS) under CSC Resolution No. 2600920.
Schools Division Offices (SDOs) that have received their Notice of Organization, Staffing, and Classification Action (NOSCA) were directed to immediately begin filling the entry-level positions.
To streamline operations and accelerate recruitment nationwide, DepEd mandated that all SDOs conduct the entire recruitment process through the Agile Gateway for Appointments and Placements (AGAP) System, the Department’s digital recruitment platform. The system enables online publication of vacancies, electronic submission of applications, automated processing of documentary requirements, and appointment generation, significantly reducing processing time and administrative burden.
Recognizing that not all applicants have immediate access to digital facilities, SDOs were also instructed to establish physical assistance kiosks and help desks in their respective offices to assist walk-in applicants with account creation, requirement registration, and document uploading.
“Hindi lang ito tungkol sa pagpuno ng mga plantilla positions. Napakahalaga ng pag-hire natin ng mga School Counselor Associates dahil sila ang magiging kaagapay ng ating mga mag-aaral sa pang-araw-araw nilang mental health at psychosocial needs,” Angara said.
“Tugon din ito sa utos ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na gawing tunay na sentro ng kalinga at proteksyon ang ating mga paaralan. Sa tulong ng ating bagong digital system, ginawa nating mas mabilis at accessible ang recruitment para agad silang makapagsimula nang walang bureaucratic delays,” Angara added.
The initiative expands the school-based mental health workforce through the creation and deployment of School Counselor Associate positions. School Counselor Associates will provide basic mental health services, learner support, documentation, referral, and other related functions, thereby helping address persistent staffing gaps in public schools. Their deployment complements the specialized guidance and counseling services provided by Registered Guidance Counselors.
Beyond expanding the workforce, RA 12080 institutionalizes a career progression pathway from School Counselor Associate I to V, with opportunities to advance to School Counselor I to IV and eventually Schools Division Counselor, subject to meeting the prescribed qualifications, including professional licensure.
Under DepEd’s compressed timeline, the end-to-end recruitment process will move on an accelerated schedule upon an SDO’s receipt of its NOSCA.
For the School Counselor Associate I position, applicants must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology; or any Bachelor’s Degree with at least 18 units in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology; or any related Bachelor’s Degree with at least 18 units in Behavioral Science courses, inclusive of 200 hours of supervised practicum or internship experience on guidance and counseling, preferably in a school or community setting. No prior experience or additional training is required. Applicants must possess Career Service Professional (Second Level) Eligibility.
With the deployment of the initial 10,000 School Counselor Associates, DepEd moves closer to fully operationalizing RA 12080 and strengthening a comprehensive school-based mental health system that ensures learners receive timely, accessible, and professional psychosocial support for public basic education.
