MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to allocate more funds that will allow public schools to hire more non-teaching personnel.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the DBM is “favorably considering” their request for additional posts for administrative and technical staff to reduce the workload of teachers.
The DepEd has received funding to hire 5,000 new non-teaching personnel this year, but Briones said more is needed in thousands of public schools across the country.
“It is not enough for our 47,000 public schools, but it is already, I believe, a step in the right direction,” she said.
Latest data showed that there are 51,435 non-teaching personnel in public schools.
The lack of administrative and technical staff often results in teachers having to take over additional responsibilities on top of their regular workload.
Teacher groups have repeatedly called for measures to address the heavy workload of teachers, saying this could have an impact on the overall system of education in the country.
The DepEd said it has also reduced the number of school forms needed to be filled out by teachers by implementing standardization of format and reduction of data needed in existing forms.
Meanwhile, the agency clarified that it is not seeking to lower the minimum standards required for guidance counselors in public schools.
Last week, the department released a statement noting discussions with the DBM and the Civil Service Commission on the possibility of easing minimum requirements to attract more guidance counselors.
Latest data from the agency showed that more than half of 3,500 guidance counselor positions are vacant, with officials citing low pay as a primary reason.
Guidance counselors – who need to have master’s degrees and should have passed the licensure examination – only receive the same salary as an entry-level teacher, which the DepEd said makes working in the private sector more attractive.