Angara urges teachers to check on students amid counselor shortage

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday urged teachers to regularly check in on their students and watch for signs of unusual behavior, as public schools nationwide continue to face a shortage of guidance counselors.

Amid rising incidents of school violence, Angara said teachers should pay closer attention to their students, especially in schools without guidance counselors.

“Kumustahin nila. Pansinin nila kung may unusual behavior kasi 'yun could be possible triggers for violence,” he said on the sidelines of the Rise Against Hunger Program at Quirino Elementary School in Quezon City.

(Teachers should check on their students and observe if they are exhibiting unusual behavior because these could be possible triggers for violence.)

“So kung depressed 'yung bata, matagal hindi pumasok, biglang nag-dip in performance, hindi na niya kinakausap 'yung kanyang mga kasama, usually could be indicators of possible school violence.”

(If a student appears depressed, has been absent for an extended period, suddenly experiences a decline in academic performance, or stops interacting with classmates, these could be indicators of possible school violence.)

Asked whether teachers are equipped to perform some functions typically handled by licensed guidance counselors, Angara acknowledged the shortage.

“Well, we don't have enough guidance counselors in the Philippines. That's a fact,” he said.

The latest Department of Education (DepEd) data show more than 4,000 unfilled positions for guidance counselors and coordinators in public schools.

He added that DepEd is hiring 10,000 guidance counselor associates, a position that does not require a professional license.

Angara also said DepEd had conducted a security audit of public schools, which revealed significant gaps in campus safety measures.

“Nakita natin maraming walang security guard. Maraming kailangan ng bakod, CCTV, and metal detectors,” he said.

(We found that many schools do not have security guards. Many also still need fences, CCTV cameras, and metal detectors.)

According to Angara, DepEd is coordinating with local government units, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and barangays to strengthen security in schools.

No school nurses, doctors

Angara also acknowledged the lack of nurses and doctors assigned to public school clinics on a daily basis.

His remarks came after the family of a 13-year-old student who was fatally stabbed at Las Piñas National High School complained about the alleged absence of a nurse at the school's clinic.

“Wala naman talagang mga nurse sa schools natin. Matagal nang walang nurse sa schools natin, so we don't even have enough teachers. We don't have enough guidance counselors. Ganun talaga,” Angara said.

(We really don't have nurses in our schools. We haven't had enough nurses for a long time. We don't even have enough teachers, and we don't have enough guidance counselors. That's the reality.)

The education chief said DepEd is seeking assistance from the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth to help address the shortage.

'Additional work?'

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) criticized DepEd, saying it appeared to be shifting additional responsibilities to already overworked and underpaid public school teachers.

“Hindi trabaho ng guro na maging nurse, security guard, at guidance counselor,” ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo told GMA News in a text message.

(It is not the job of teachers to serve as nurses, security guards, and guidance counselors.)

Bernardo also pushed back against the suggestion that teachers should monitor students for possible mental health concerns or warning signs of violence.

“Hindi pwedeng ipasa na naman sa mga guro ang responsibilidad na magbantay ng unusual behavior o mental health issues ng libu-libong estudyante. Mga guro kami, hindi kami trained psychologists o kapulisan," she said.

(They cannot once again pass on to teachers the responsibility of monitoring unusual behavior or mental health issues among thousands of students. We are teachers—we are not trained psychologists or police officers.)

"Overworked at underpaid na nga ang mga teacher sa pagtuturo at paperworks, gagawin niyo pang tagapagligtas sa palpak na sistema?” Bernardo added.

(Teachers are already overworked and underpaid because of teaching and paperwork. Now you want us to become the saviors of a failing system?) — MCG, GMA News