DepEd urges hiring of more school guidance counselors for Gen Z

EDUCATION Secretary Leonor Briones has urged the hiring of more guidance counselors to help the adjustment of Generation Z students in the junior and senior high school levels.

Generation Z refers born in the mid- to late-1990s, succeeding the millennials. They have used digital technology since a young age and are comfortable with the internet and social media, but are not necessarily digitally literate.

In a statement on Monday, the Department of Education (DepEd) admitted there were problems in filling those roles, due to “disparity in the qualification standards and the salary grade for entry level as provided by law.”

“It’s not that we’re not hiring,” Briones was quoted as saying. “There [are] high qualification standards, like passing of the masteral degree and the licensure exams for guidance counselor, and yet we’re giving them Salary Grade 11 as entry level. So no one is applying in DepEd.”

DepEd Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla explained the pending request to increase the salary grade of guidance counselors at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“So, if DBM can issue also guidelines on the overhead cost it will be very beneficial to us. If they can approve the increase in the salary grade, vacant positions for our guidance counselors will be filled [up] in,” Sevilla was quoted as saying.

Briones and Sevilla explained the need for hiring more guidance counselors during the Economic Development Cluster at the Department of Finance on November 28.