EDCOM2: 1 guidance counselor associate needed for every 500 students

At least one guidance counselor associate is needed for every 500 students to attend to students' well-being, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM2) said Sunday.

In an interview over Super Radyo dzBB, EDCOM2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee cited the commission's recommendation amid heightened concerns over student welfare following a school shooting in Zamboanga City last week.

"There are 47,000 schools nationwide, so we would need at least one guidance counselor associate for each school, meaning we still need funding for 37,000 more guidance counselor associates. Ideally, however, one guidance counselor associate is needed for every 500 students," he said.

Based on official data, the Department of Education has logged at least 26 million enrollees for School Year 2026-2027.

According to Yee, schools should have early warning systems to monitor students’ well-being and provide timely support, noting that bullying is among the causes of school violence.

"We need to make sure that such violence or incidents are prevented before they even happen in our schools,” Yee said.

Initial information showed that the student linked to the fatal shooting entered the premises of Ateneo de Zamboanga University carrying a high-powered firearm and a .45-caliber pistol.

The shooting resulted in the deaths of two students, including the shooter.

Based on an EDCOM2 study, the Philippines remains the “bullying capital of the world,” with nearly two in three Grade 5 students reporting that they experience bullying at least once a month.

The call for stronger support systems for students has also drawn the attention of Catholic Church leaders.

In earlier statements, Cardinals Jose Advincula and Pablo David called for spaces where children can freely and safely speak and heal.

In a message of solidarity, Advincula said the Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting incident should prompt the public to listen more closely to young people’s “struggles.”

Meanwhile, David said the country needs “national therapy,” where healing, truth-telling and justice are recognized and pursued, while adults teach children empathy and conflict resolution.— MCG, GMA News