THE government is working to resolve the shortage of guidance counselors and specialists in the country by funding scholarships for master’s degrees in Guidance Counseling or Psychology and other specializations, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom 2).
In a statement, EdCom 2 said that P182 million has been allotted in the 2026 national budget to fund the scholarships.
EdCom 2 Commissioner and Senate Finance Committee chairman Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the scholarships “to support future guidance counselors, therapists and other allied health professionals are consistent with the progressive realization of promoting mental health in basic education and supporting inclusive education for learners with disabilities.”
The fund is allocated under the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) “Specialized Postgraduate Scholarships for DepEd (Department of Education) Personnel.”
P121.37 million is allocated to support at least two Department of Education employees per Schools Division Office (SDO), while P60.68 million is earmarked for at least one qualified employee per SDO to specialize in support of inclusive education programs.
This year’s General Appropriations Act also called for a return-service agreement for scholars, under which they will commit to serve in public schools or government health facilities “for a period equivalent to the number of years they received the scholarship.”
EdCom 2 data had revealed a “staggering gap” in professional supply. In the 2023-2024 school year, there were fewer than 300 graduates nationwide for a Master of Arts in Guidance Counseling.
EdCom also noted the need for specialists to comprise multidisciplinary teams in Inclusive Learning Resource Centers, as under the CHED Merit Scholarship program. Priority will be given to undergraduate students enrolled in Educational Psychology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Language Pathology to ensure that the 16-member teams mandated by Republic Act 11650, or the Inclusive Education Act of 2022, can be fully realized.
EdCom 2 Commissioner and House Basic Education Committee chairman Rep. Roman Romulo said true education inclusivity also means that there should be the right people on the ground.
“Through these investments, we ensure that our Schools Division Offices and Inclusive Learning Resource Centers are staffed with multidisciplinary teams — from registered guidance counselors and psychologists, to therapists,” Romulo added.
He said the return-service agreement will guarantee that the scholars are deployed where they are most such, as public schools and underserved communities.
The Teacher Education Council (TEC) also received P103 million for its Teacher Education Scholarship program to address widespread teacher specialization mismatches by funding 1,200 scholarship slots.
The slots include 500 dedicated positions for Special Needs Education and another 500 for Early Childhood Education.
EdCom 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee said the funding for the TEC will close a “staggering mismatch” in the education system.
“By specifically targeting Special Needs and Early Childhood Education, we are moving from merely counting teachers to ensuring we have the right teachers for the specific needs of Filipino learners.” Yee said.
