STATE-OWNED Philippine Normal University has overpaid P1.72 million to faculty members whose teaching overload occurred during regular work hours, state auditors said.

The teaching overload happened from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and should not have been considered overtime work, the Commission on Audit said in a report.

“The teaching overload was rendered within the 40-hour a week exclusive of time for lunch as prescribed by the Commission on Civil Service hence, should be considered as service rendered during the regular official time and not as extra pay,” it said.

It added that almost all faculty members were given extra teaching load, even those who were on study leave.

State auditors said the management of PNU North Luzon must justify its 25-hour weekly work instead of the prescribed working hours by Civil Service Commission.

CoA also said extra and emergency loads should be kept low to maintain teaching efficiency.

Responding to the audit, the university said the 25-hour weekly working schedule was also being followed by other PNU campuses based on a resolution approved by the Board of Regents in 2016.

The state university also said the teaching loads did not affect the effectiveness of its faculty members, as shown by students’ performance in licensure exams.

In reply, CoA said board order on the working schedule violated civil service rules. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

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