DepEd urged not to 'dissolve' Head Teacher position
An organization of employees under the Department of Education (DepEd) with Head Teachers (HTs) positions in the national plantilla reiterated its call on the agency not to dissolve their positions to create an expanded career progression system for public school teachers.
“Because of anxiety and demoralization, some of our seasoned colleagues are now planning to retire,” said National Head Teachers Association of the Philippines (NaHTAP) lead convenor Dino Busilig in a statement.
Busilig, who is also a head teacher from Batangas, said that the proposed implementing rules based on the Executive Order 174 drafted by DepEd would result in “mass demoralization.”
Based on recent information, NaHTAP said that the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) will be released this January. However, the DepEd has “not initiated” a consultation with the stakeholders, especially the Head Teachers who will be affected by this policy change.
“We have been patient and we continue to wait for the DepEd’s call for consultation but it seems that we are waiting for nothing,” Busilig said.
The group added that it has received information that the DepEd has finished the draft and there are circulation documents that their administrative positions will be retitled to classroom tasks --- “an option that is not explicitly provided in the said executive order.”
Meanwhile, the Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) supported the move of NaHTAP and even lobbied for the adoption of their position on the matter to Representative Roman Romulo, the Chair of the House Basic Education Committee.
“We maintain our stand to retain the Head Teacher position in the proposed policy contrary to the expressed intention of the DepEd to dissolve or retitle the said positions in the draft IRR of EO 174,” said TDC Chairperson Benjo Basas in a letter to Romulo.
Last November, the House panel consolidated the bills that intend to provide a career progression system for teachers and adopted some proposals from TDC and NaHTAP.
“We would like to ask your support to the said bill that will harmonize the wisdom of the House Basic Education Committee, the opinions and sentiments of organized teachers and the intention of Executive Order 174 which is to provide a better and expanded career progression system for public school teachers,” Basas added.
TDC and NaHTAP are also seeking the support of legislators for the bill or a better version of the IRR.
While worried by this situation, Busilig noted that the head teachers “are still hopeful” that the DepEd, Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Civil Service Commission (CSC), and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will be “fair enough to consider the retention of our position.”