DepEd removes administrative tasks from teachers

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday released a memorandum relieving public school teachers of administrative or non-teaching duties.

DepEd Order No. 002, Series of 2024 or the memorandum for the “Immediate Removal of Administrative Tasks of Public School Teachers,” removes non-teaching tasks to “give support to teachers to teach better.”

“This is geared toward building a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning to thrive,” the memo stated.

“The Department aims to remove the administrative tasks of teachers to enable them to maximize their time in actual classroom teaching," it added. "With this endeavor, they shall be able to focus on the teaching and learning process and become effective facilitators of learning."

The order also said schools can hire additional staff under Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, Job Orders, or Contract of Service.

In the presentation of the Basic Education Report 2024, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said DepEd has earlier expressed its intention to remove administrative tasks from teachers.

“To ensure its effective implementation along with the filling up of 5,000 administrative personnel for 2023 and another 5,000 administrative personnel for 2024, we will also be providing additional MOOE to hire the necessary administrative support staff,” she also said.

“Let us bring our teachers back to the classrooms,” Duterte added.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-list said at least two administrative staff per school should be provided by the department to resolve the issue of overworked teachers.

“With almost 50,000 schools suffering from being understaffed, we need at least two administrative staff per school to truly unload the teachers from being overworked,” the group said in a statement.

“The allocation of 10,000 administrative staff positions nationwide appears exaggerated in terms of its potential to relieve teachers of administrative duties,” it added.