School season is over and summer vacation is just around the corner. Before the fun of the summer heat began, the Guidance Counselors Network of Zamboanga Sibugay converged for a two-day training on "Guidance Plan Formulation and Career Employment Coaching" on April 07-08, 2014 at Roderics Resort, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. The training aimed to help Guidance Counselors in designing and developing their own School Guidance Counseling Annual Plan just before the new school year begins. Career Employment Coaching was also given emphasis to intensify dissemination of Labor Market Information in the 3rd year and 4th year high school.

The training workshop was organized by the Department of Education-Zamboanga Sibugay Division in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Zamboanga Sibugay Guidance Counselors Network. The activity was participated in by 61 Guidance Counselors coming from 50 Public Secondary Schools, 1 Private High School, and 2 Colleges in Zamboanga Sibugay.

There were five resource speakers invited for the training and one of which is Mrs. Ermah Shiela Roble R.G.C., the President of the Zamboanga Peninsula Guidance Counselors Network who gave inputs on the role of Guidance Counselors in the implementation of K-12 Program, Ethical Standards Related to Career Guidance Advocacy Activities, and Career Decision Making Process. Topics on Guidance Program Development were handled by Dr. Cesar Cañonero and Faith M. Magdayao, while topics on Career Employment Coaching were handled by Melinda Joy M. Javier and DOLE FO Head, Elamsalih E. Ungad.

The activity was also paved way for other development endeavors of the Guidance Counselors Network as plans for two more Career Fiesta will be made this year to be hosted by the Municipality of Titay and the Municipality of Talusan. Plans for the conduct of the Career Guidance Week this coming July were also ironed out by the officers of the Network.

Another highlight of the first day was the formation of the DepEd Guidance Counselors Association which aimed to organize GCs and GC designates under the Department of Education for a strong implementation of the DepEd Guidance Program. A new set of officers was elected by the group which will focus to fast-track the formulation of their CBL and registration to the SEC.

The second day of the training was very crucial as participants drafted their School Guidance Counselling Plan which will be finalized after the review and approval will be made by their School Principal.

Reported by Edyll Grace P. Poligrates, ZSFO