Five new teaching positions in public schools – DepEd

Metro Manila, Philippines — Five teaching positions will be added for public school teachers next year, as the education department issued guidelines for the expanded career progression system on Friday, July 26.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara led the ceremonial signing at the Department of Education (DepEd) central office in Pasig City, together with government officials and education advocates.

Under the expanded career progression system, there will be additional positions for public school teachers such as Teacher IV, V, VI, and VI, and Master Teacher V. Currently, teaching positions are only up to Teacher III and Master Teacher IV.

“Those who qualify for Master Teacher I can choose between remaining in classroom teaching or moving into school administration,” the Department of Education (DepEd) said in a press release.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who was present in the ceremony, said over 140,000 plantilla positions will be allotted for the new teaching items.

“For next year, because we expect that iyong full transition ng ating implementation given the IRR signed today, we have P6.1 billion under the DepEd budget for the National Expenditure Program,” she said.

In his State of the Nation Address on July 22, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered to improve the promotion process for public school teachers.

“Hindi na po siya time-based o hintayan…Hindi na po kailangan lumipat ng lugar, lumipat ng eskwelahan ang aming teachers dahil kawawa naman iyong iniwan niyang maliit na eskwela kung lumipat pa siya ng malaking paaralan para makakuha ng higher teacher item,” Angara said in his speech.

[Translation: It’s no longer time-based or a waiting game. The teacher doesn’t have to shift to other schools, leave the small ones to transfer to bigger schools to get a higher teaching position.]

Welcome development

In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, a teacher’s group said it welcomes the career progression.

“Everybody now has an opportunity para maabot ang pinakamataas (na position) which is master teacher,” Teachers Dignity Coalition’s Benjo Basas said.

[Translation: Everybody has an opportunity now to reach the highest teaching position which is master teacher]

Basas said the career track would give more options for teachers shifting to administrative work because of higher pay.

“This is one of the main features of the career progression. Lahat ng gustong maging teacher, manatili na classroom teacher, doon tayo sa classroom. Iyon namang gustong maging administrator, doon tayo papunta sa track ng principal,” he said.

[Translation: This is one of the main features of the career progression. Those who want to teach and stay in the classroom would remain there. While those who want to be an administrator will head towards the track of a principal.]