Lawmaker seeks review of 6-hour teaching load

Metro Manila, Philippines – A lawmaker asked the Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday to look into an agency order for the six-hour teaching load of public school teachers.

In an interview with government network People’s Television, Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, House committee on basic education chairperson, said some teachers teach for six-hours straight.

“Mentally, emotionally, physically nakakapagod iyan,” he said.

[Translation: That’s mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting.]

In a house hearing on Aug. 5, advocacy group Teachers Dignity Coalition said the six-hour classroom teaching policy could be physically challenging for teachers.

Under DepEd Order 005 series of 2024 signed by then Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte, teachers must render eight hours of service per day, including six hours for classroom teaching.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier said the six-hour teaching policy must be strictly enforced.

Romulo said some teachers extend beyond eight working hours because of double shifting. He said the Education Department must make some adjustments.

“Pag-aralan muna nila iyong requirement nila na bawat subject ay araw-araw dapat ituro… Hindi naman siya araw-araw kailangang ituro araw-araw ang bawat subjects. Because dito pa lang nagkre-create pa lang siya ng strain mentally, emotionally sa teachers,” said Romulo.

[Translation: They should look into the requirement that subjects must be taught daily. It doesn’t have to be like that. Because that already creates emotional and mental strain for teachers.]

Romulo also pointed out how teaching quality may suffer because of the policy.

“Importante ang teachers sa quality of education. Kapag masyadong pagod ang teacher, kapag ang teacher ay hindi masaya, ang end of the day po ang quality of teaching maapektuhan,” he said.

[Translation: Teachers are important in shaping the quality of education. If teachers are too tired or if they are not happy, the teaching quality may get affected at the end of the day.]

NewsWatch Plus Correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report