Civil Service Commission has not yet approved standards for 10,000 school counselor associate positions

The Civil Service Commission has not approved the qualification standards needed for the Department of Education to hire 10,000 school counselor associates in 2026. Lawmakers on Monday, June 29, questioned the Department of Education and the Civil Service Commission about the delay during a House basic education committee hearing.

The hearing followed recent school violence incidents, including a fatal shooting in Tacloban City that left three students dead and 20 others injured.

Hiring delay and budget allocation Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo, the panel chairman, noted that the country has fewer than 8,000 psychologists and registered guidance counselors. He said this shortage prompted passage of Republic Act No. 12080, the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

signed in December 2024. The 2026 General Appropriations Act allocated around P2 billion for the 10,000 positions. Under the law, school counselor associates must hold a bachelor's degree in guidance and counseling or psychology, or have at least 18 units in those fields plus 200 hours of training, and will receive salary grades 11 to 15.

CSC review status An Education Assistant Secretary told the committee that the Department of Education submitted qualification standards to the Civil Service Commission in November 2025. The commission questioned the 200-hour training requirement in January 2026, and the department responded that the law mandates it.

As of June 3, 2026, the standards were with the commission en banc for approval, according to the Education Assistant Secretary. An acting director of the Civil Service Commission Human Resource Policies and Standards Office said a decision is due for release anytime soon but could not commit to a timeline.