MANILA, Philippines – To make schools “sanctuaries of learning and well-being,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed a law on Monday, December 9, mandating mental health programs for all students, as well as teaching and non-teaching personnel, in both public and private schools nationwide.
The President signed Republic Act No. 12080 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which mandates the development of a School-Based Mental Health Program.
The program must include screening, evaluation, assessment, and monitoring; mental health first aid; a crisis response and referral system; mental health awareness and literacy; as well as emotional, developmental, and preventive programs, among other support services.
Each Schools Division Office is also required to set up a Mental Health and Well-Being Office to implement the new initiatives.
“When our learners and school personnel are mentally healthy, academic performance improves, absenteeism decreases, and a culture of compassion and understanding flourishes. Beyond being a safeguard to our youth and school personnel, this law is also an investment in the intellectual, emotional, and social future and development of our nation,” Marcos said.
Plantilla positions for school counselor associates I to V will be created to address the nationwide shortage of guidance counselors.
School counselor associates must meet one of the following qualifications:
In August, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said he was in discussions with the Civil Service Commission and the Commission on Higher Education to ease the requirements for hiring guidance counselors, particularly by waiving the master’s degree requirement. This came in response to challenges in filling nearly 5,000 vacant counselor positions due to the existing educational qualifications.
As the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) reiterated in a statement on Monday, “the ratio of guidance counselors to students in many public schools is alarmingly low, with one counselor often responsible for thousands of students, leaving many without access to adequate support.”
Strengthening mental health programs in schools is crucial, especially after it was found that the Philippines had the highest percentage of bullying among all participating countries and territories in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment.
EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Yee said this finding is alarming because students “don’t feel safe and therefore could not concentrate on their studies.”
In addition, according to EDCOM 2, more than 10,000 public schools “still do not have localized anti-bullying policies in place” as of 2024, despite the enactment of the Anti-Bullying Act in 2013.
Following the signing of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act on Monday, the law’s principal author and sponsor, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, said it would help address bullying in schools.
“By ensuring the accessibility of mental health services, we can instill resilience in our learners, prevent suicides, and make our schools safer,” added Gatchalian, who is a co-chairperson of EDCOM 2.
Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo, also a co-author of the law and EDCOM 2 co-chair, said “the real work begins with ensuring that this law is implemented effectively across our schools, especially in those that currently lack both anti-bullying policies and mental health practitioners.” – Rappler.com
