DepEd wants to remove admin tasks of teachers

DepEd wants to remove admin tasks of teachers

The Department of Education (DepEd) is planning to reduce the workload of teachers by removing administrative tasks and introducing a work-balancing tool.

In a press briefing, DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa said this tool seeks to assess the working hours of teachers and how efficiently they are being spent.

Poa said the DepEd will hire not only more teachers but also non-teaching personnel to help them, by including a budget allocation for the hiring of 10,000 teachers by 2023.

“‘Yun po ‘yung nakasaad sa work balancing tool na ila-launch natin once approved and completed. Para po makita natin ano ‘yung teaching time lang talaga, ano ‘yung admin tasks lang talaga, at ‘yung admin tasks ay gusto na nating ipasa sa non-teaching personnel or ma-reduce kung kaya namang ma-reduce,” he said.

“Within the year malalabas po natin ‘yan kasi nga po ito’y isang magandang tool para ma-identify muna natin kung ano ‘yung ginagawa ng mga teachers natin sa field or on the ground,” he added.

Poa also said that the DepEd central office would also implement a reduction of special assignments during events, requiring teachers’ participation, as well as municipal or provincial events initiated by the local government units.

“Na-ta-task ‘yung mga teachers natin na sumali sa activities na ito. Hindi na po natin gagawin, babawasan na po natin hanggat makakaya para po the teachers will have more time in the classrooms than outside activities,” he said.

In consideration of Executive Order (EO) 3, which makes the use of face masks voluntary in open spaces, Poa said they have yet to coordinate with the Department of Health.

“Our learners usually spend their time inside the classrooms, so it’s still mandatory. However, in the latest developments brought about by EO 3, we will coordinate with the DOH. We will consult the DOH because there are times our learners are in open spaces,” he said.

“What we want to prevent is a major surge that would fully exhaust our critical care system in the Philippines. So again, we are still enforcing the health standards in our schools,” he added.