DBM approves 5,000 school administrative positions to ease burden of teachers
By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter
TO SET teachers up for the big task of ensuring quality education in public schools, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced Tuesday funding approval for the hiring of 5,000 non-teaching staff to ease teachers’ workload.
“Our educators already have their plates full,” said Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, citing the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposal to lessen teachers’ administrative tasks so they could focus on teaching.
“By approving the creation of 5,000 non-teaching positions, we aim to relieve teachers of administrative tasks and allow them to focus on quality instruction,” she said.
The non-teaching positions would be considered Administrative Officer II positions with Salary Grade 11 or a minimum salary of P27,000. The positions would be assigned to different schools nationwide.
Funding for the new positions will be sourced from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund under the 2024 national budget, while the Retirement and Life Insurance Premium would be chargeable against the automatic appropriations.
“This move will significantly benefit our educators and enhance the country’s education system,” the Budget Secretary said.
Administrative tasks are bloating teachers’ workload, affecting the quality of their lectures and their well-being.
“Under the Bagong Pilipinas, we will continue to prioritize the welfare of our teachers and students. After all, they are at the heart of our national development goals,” she said in mixed English and Filipino.
In January, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio mandated the removal of administrative tasks of public school teachers under DepEd Order No. 002.
Administrative tasks cited by the DepEd include personnel administration, property or physical facilities custodianship, general administrative support, financial and records management, and program management like feeding programs.
“These extra duties are often the result of understaffed schools being unable to provide sufficient support services,” according to the Order.
