Senator Win Gatchalian is proposing an increase in the number of guidance designates in public schools to help address bullying incidents.
Gatchalian made this proposal following a recent Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing that addressed incidents of bullying and violence in schools.
Guidance designates are teachers responsible for implementing guidance services in schools.
Further, the lawmaker also urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to review the ideal ratio of guidance designates to learners.
To date, one guidance counselor or guidance designate is assigned for every 500 learners. Based on DepEd data, 10,412 out of 45,326 schools have no guidance designates for School Year 2024-2025.
While Gatchalian advocates for relieving teachers of non-teaching duties, he views the increase in guidance designates as a “stopgap” or a temporary solution due to the shortage of guidance counselors.
“Part of our recommendation to DepEd is to review the role of guidance designates. Maybe we can increase their number depending on the size of the school by adjusting the ratio," he said.
Also, Gatchalian pressed the importance of implementing the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act (Republic Act No. 12080), which he authored and sponsored.
The law mandates the development of a School-Based Mental Health Program to promote the mental health and well-being of learners. The law also seeks to address the shortage of guidance counselors in public schools.