As it rationalized the workload of teachers in public schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday, April 30, also announced that those who will work beyond the prescribed hours will receive payment for the overload.
Dated April 29, the department released DepEd Order No. 05, s. 2024 signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to ensure that teachers can devote more time to classroom teaching.
The newly issued order rationalizes the workload of public school teachers and outlines the ancillary tasks that can be assigned to them.
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“In addition, the issuance also indicated the guidelines and procedures on the appropriate teaching load to be given to teachers,” DepEd said.
“More importantly, the payment of teaching overload for those who will exceed the prescribed number of hours,” it added.
DepEd explained that payment of teaching overload will be made “every quarter” --- subject to the “extent of allotment” for the purpose.
However, DepEd noted that in “case of insufficiency of funds,” the teaching overload hours will be converted to earned Vacation Service Credits (VSC) provided under the existing DepEd policy.
Mixed reactions
For the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), the latest DepEd policy is a “historic victory” for the country's public school teachers.
While it welcomed DepEd’s latest policy on workload and payment of teaching overload, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) raised some concerns about the “dangerous” provisions of the said issuance.
“Bagamat kinikilala natin ang paglilinaw ng DepEd na dapat bayaran ang trabaho o turo na lampas sa itinatadhana ng batas, kailangan pa ring masusing pag-aralan ang mga nilalaman ng DepEd Order No. 5, s. 2024 at ang mga posibleng implikasyon nito (While we recognize DepEd's clarification that work or teaching beyond what is mandated by law should be compensated, the contents of DepEd Order No. 5, S. 2024 and its possible implications need to be thoroughly studied),” said the TDC in a statement.
TDC pointed out that upon initial inspection, “there may be various interpretations of this in the field, as often happens, especially if the policy favors teachers.”
The group argued that the primary basis for workload teaching overload and overtime pay “should be those we have long fought for.”
TDC noted that the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (Secs. 13 & 14), Civil Service Commission (CSC) Resolution 080096, DepEd Memorandum 291, s. 2008, and DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2009 are “sufficient to implement the policies.”
Related to this, TDC said it will request a dialogue with DepEd for “further clarification” on the matter.
“Sa pinakasimple, ang pagpapatupad dapat ng anumnag probisyon ng Magna Carta ay pangunahing nakaslig sa pagbibigay ng benepisyo, maayos na kalagayan sa pagtuturo, karapatan at kapakanan ng mga guro (Simply put, the implementation of any provision of the Magna Carta should primarily be focused on providing benefits, a proper teaching condition, and the rights and welfare of teachers),” the group said.
TDC noted that if this is not the case and it becomes burdensome, then it is not in line with the “purpose and principles” of the law.