Rekha Kakkar
Updated on: October 16, 2024 8:15 am GMT
In an effort to support public school teachers in the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd) has recently made significant changes to teacher workload regulations. According to DepEd Order No. 005, signed by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, teachers are now not required to teach more than six hours daily. This rule aligns with the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, which ensures that teachers have manageable workloads.
New Policies for Teacher Workload and Compensation
Clear Guidelines for Teaching Hours
DepEd’s new directive clarifies that teachers can teach for up to two extra hours per day in exceptional cases. Those who do work beyond this six-hour limit are eligible for overload pay as well as Vacation Service Credits (VSC), rewarding teachers for their additional efforts.
Key points of the new order include:
- Teachers have a maximum teaching time of six hours per day.
- Additional work beyond this is compensated with overload pay for up to two hours.
- Vacation Service Credits are earned for work over the regular load.
Flexible Work Arrangements
The new guidelines also allow teachers flexibility in completing teaching-related tasks. They can choose to work either inside the school or at home, which provides teachers with more options to manage their responsibilities. Teachers will keep track of their time through simple methods like logbooks or certificates of undertaking.
DepEd Secretary Angara emphasized the importance of these changes: “By optimizing teachers’ workloads and providing fair compensation for additional duties, we are creating a more balanced and sustainable environment for our educators. This will ultimately enhance student learning outcomes.”
Increased Leave Credits for Teachers
In a related move, DepEd has doubled the Vacation Service Credits from 15 to 30 days. This policy will be effective 15 days after the recent announcement made on September 18. The revisions benefit all public school teachers, including mobile teachers, and apply regardless of their appointment status.
Highlights of the leave credit updates include:
- 30 leave credits for regular teachers with at least one year of service.
- Teachers hired within four months of the school year start will also receive this benefit.
- Those appointed late can earn up to 45 leave credits depending on their hire date.
Proper Compensation for Extra Work
The updated leave credits system ensures that teachers are compensated for extra hours worked. For every hour teachers put in beyond their regular schedule, they gain 1.25 hours of leave credit, and 1.5 leave credits for services rendered during holidays. This compensation is crucial for safeguarding teachers’ pay, particularly during busy periods or vacations.
Essential documentation is required to validate the additional hours worked, including:
- A signed CS Form 48
- School Form 8
- Certification of teaching overload
Support for Educators
These new policies reflect the DepEd’s commitment to evolving the educational landscape while supporting both teachers and students. With increased workload transparency and improved compensation structures, teachers can focus on enhancing their teaching without the stress of excessive hours.
The clear guidelines offer reassurance to educators that their workloads are being managed effectively. This initiative aims to foster an environment where teachers can thrive, ultimately benefiting student learning experiences.
teachers’ rights and welfare have been significantly reinforced through these new policies. The commitment to fair workloads and reasonable compensation is a positive step toward a more sustainable educational system in the Philippines.
The Department of Education is working hard to help teachers with the challenges they face. They want to build a system that understands how important teachers are in helping students grow and succeed in the future.
