THERE are over 4,000 vacant positions for guidance counselors in the Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara said on Saturday.

“Mayroon pong mga posisyon ‘yan, bakante lang po. Opo, may plantilla item na po at halos parang 4,000 plus ang bakante. Bawat rehiyon may bakante,” Angara said.

The DepEd chief said that they will ask the permission of Department of Budget and Management to increase the salary of guidance counselors.

“Mababa ‘yung suweldo, so gusto namin ire-reclassify namin ‘yung posisyon, manghihingi kami ng permiso sa Department of Budget or DBM, at from Salary Grade 11, gagawin naming Salary Grade 13. Pagkat kapag may master’s degree na ang tao, malamang hindi niya kukunin ‘yung mas mababang suweldo,” he said.

Under the adjusted salary, government employees under Salary Grade 11 will receive P28,512, while for Salary Grade 13, they will receive P32,870.

Angara also said that DepEd is eyeing to consider to hire guidance counselors who are taking their master’s degree.

“Pinag-uusapan na payagan ‘yung mga bachelor graduates lang ng psychology or ng guidance and counseling na umupo, subject to five years na makuha nila yung actually or full master’s degree,” he said.