Creating 5,000 non-teaching positions in schools nationwide is a positive step by the DepEd (Department of Education) to help alleviate teachers' administrative tasks. This could potentially enhance the overall education system by allowing educators to focus more on teaching and students' needs.
The Department of Education (DepEd) plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape of the Philippines. With millions of students relying on its services, DepEd continually seeks to enhance the quality of education provided in the country.
One significant step in achieving this goal is the creation of 5,000 non-teaching positions in schools nationwide which was recently signed by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman.
This initiative will be under the supervision of Vice President and concurrent DepEd Secretary Inday Sarah Duterte. According to the press release of Presidential Communications Office, the program aims to alleviate the administrative burdens placed on educators, allowing them to focus more on their core teaching responsibilities.
To be guided, there was a road map named MATATAG Agenda released by the DepEd, this map contains all the necessary projects that must be attended in terms of buildings, teachers, and facilities among others. Secretary Pangandaman said that in order to make the scheme successful, there need to be a consistency.
The 5,000 items, according to the roadmap, shall include 3,500 Administrative Officers (AO) II positions, these non-teaching personnel within the education system will be essential for the efficient operation of schools. While teachers are primarily responsible for delivering instruction, non-teaching staff members play a crucial role in supporting the teaching and learning process. These positions will encompass a wide range of responsibilities, such as administrative tasks, facility maintenance, and student support services.
Additionally, the remaining 1,500 items shall be alloted for Project Development Officer (PDO) I positions, meanwhile, these positions will be intended to help the AOs and other non-teaching personnel through implementation of several programs and activities that will be led by the school or from the mandates of DepEd Central Office.
Those who will be hired under the AO and PDO positions will receive a monthly basic salary of Php 27,000 with salary grade eleven based on the Fourth Tranche Monthly Salary Schedule for Civilian Personnel of the National Government.
Secretary Pangandaman emphasized that the primary objectives of the DepEd's initiative is to reduce the administrative workload on teachers. Teachers are often burdened with various administrative tasks. These tasks, while important, can be time-consuming and detract from educators' ability to focus on teaching and engaging with their students effectively, the program on the other hand, will help them save a lot of time and effort.
The approved items, as per the press release will be deployed in School Division Offices (SDOs) in the following regions: Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), CARAGA, National Capital Region (NCR), Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-,B, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII.
In terms of budget, the funds for all the filed positions will be extracted from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) under Fiscal Year 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) while the Retirement and Life Insurance Premium will be hauled from Automatic Misappropriations.
To date, during 2022 Presidential campaign, President Marcos Jr. mentioned about some teachers who were forced to do unrelated tasks to their jobs resulting in fatigue and burn-out which could affect the quality of their teachings.
According to the President, creating 5,000 non-teaching positions in schools aims to transfer many of these administrative responsibilities to trained personnel. This will enable teachers to value their mental health and allocate more of their time and energy toward lesson planning, instructional delivery, and providing individualized support to students who may require additional attention.
Reducing the administrative load on teachers is not only beneficial for educators but also for the students and the quality of education provided. When teachers have more time to prepare engaging lessons, provide timely feedback, and address the unique needs of each student, the overall learning experience improves.
Furthermore, with non-teaching personnel handling administrative tasks, schools can operate more efficiently. This may include better facilities maintenance, improved record-keeping, and enhanced student support services, all of which contribute to a conducive learning environment.
DepEd's decision to create 5,000 non-teaching positions in schools nationwide is a commendable step towards improving the quality of education in the Philippines.
Source: Presidential Commissions Office
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