Despite the absence of a unified stance from the Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office, a group of teachers commended several field offices after their respective heads issued instructions to suspend the implementation of the Results-Based Performance Management System (RPMS) for School Year (SY) 2023-2024.
Benjo Basas, National Chairperson of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), expressed gratitude in a statement issued on July 15 to several Regional Directors (RDs) and Schools Division Superintendents (SDSs) who took decisive action by instructing their respective areas to halt RPMS implementation.
Basas praised the actions of regional directors from Region V, the National Capital Region (NCR), Region VII, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region XII, and Region IX for suspending RPMS.
TDC had already sent two letters to the DepEd Central Office seeking clarification on the matter. "We believe the Central Office should promptly respond, as there is apparent confusion in the field due to conflicting claims and interpretations," Basas wrote to all DepEd regional directors.
Basas noted that TDC's request aligns with Executive Order No. 61 signed by President Marcos on June 3, which suspends RPMS and the Performance-Based Incentive System (PBIS) in all government agencies.
The order mandates the immediate suspension of all RPMS policies and designates 2023 as the transition year for the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB), TDC said.
Basas pointed out that varying instructions in each division exacerbate confusion. "This could have been easily resolved if DepEd had promptly responded to formal and informal queries," he added.
Over the weekend, TDC initiated communication with some regional directors and received at least five positive responses.
TDC also noted that Manila SDS Rita Riddle had already instructed Manila school heads to defer RPMS submission until clear guidelines were provided. Basas described this move as being positively received by teachers and principals alike.
Meanwhile, TDC Manila spokesperson Lester Beleno emphasized adherence to EO 61. "While reviewing the system, all related activities shall be put on hold," he explained.
Beleno appealed to SDSs nationwide to follow Riddle's example, respond to teachers' pleas, and provide clear instructions to suspend RPMS implementation.
"This simple initiative, in the absence of an official statement from DepEd Central, would be a significant gesture for teachers, allowing them to enjoy the remainder of their short vacation," Beleno added.
Support for regional directors' actions also came from school principals, according to Dr. Roland Dela Cruz, president of the National Association of Public Secondary School Heads, Inc. (NAPSSHI).
"Deferring RPMS implementation is a commendable decision by Director Andaya, as it allows teachers to better prepare for the upcoming school year and enjoy their vacation without the burden of the IPCRF," Dela Cruz said.
NAPSSHI represents secondary school principals of public basic education, who frequently face conflicts with teachers due to DepEd's lack of clear guidelines.
"I believe in the President's wisdom that this is for the greater good of our heroic teachers and thus should be implemented in their favor," Dela Cruz added. "But I hope that after review under EO 61, the TWG will develop a better performance rating system that is easier to accomplish, realistic, and accurately measures teachers' skills and performance," he added.
TDC has been proposing to revert to the simplified Performance Appraisal System for Teachers (PAST) as the measure of public school teachers' performance.
Meanwhile, TDC criticized the DepEd Central Office for ignoring calls for a unified stance on RPMS implementation for SY 2023-2024.
Given this, TDC urged DepEd field offices to issue directives to suspend RPMS implementation for SY 2023-2024 and the submission of related documents, such as the Individual Performance Commitment and Review Form (IPCRF) and the Office Performance Commitment and Review Form (OPCRF).
Basas emphasized that this matter needs an "immediate response" especially since teachers are already occupied with tasks related to the National Learning Camp, enrollment period, Matatag Curriculum training, Brigada Eskwela, and other preparations for the next school year.
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https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/8/dep-ed-urged-to-clarify-suspend-implementation-of-rpms-for-sy-2023-2024