Amid the clamor from teacher groups, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara confirmed on Monday, July 22, the suspension of the Results-Based Performance Management System (RPMS) for School Year (SY) 2023-2024.
In an interview after the flag-raising ceremony at the DepEd Central Office, Angara mentioned that he had issued his first directive as DepEd Secretary.
“We issued one already, or we issued today. Ito ‘yong suspension ng RPMS, ‘yan ‘yong teacher’s report na, dahil ito, ito ‘yong nire-review nila ‘yong performance nitong nakaraang School Year 2023-2024 (This is the suspension of RPMS, this is the teacher’s report, because they are reviewing the performance from the previous School Year 2023-2024),” Angara said.
Angara explained that teachers had been complaining about the RPMS, especially since it coincides with the start of the school year and other DepEd activities such as “Brigada Eskwela.”
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/14/dep-ed-sets-brigada-eskwela-for-sy-2024-2025-from-july-22-to-27
“Ang daming kailangang documentation… so sabi namin, i-suspend muna namin for maybe one or one and a half months (There’s a lot of documentation needed… so we said we would suspend it for maybe one or one and a half months),” Angara said.
Teachers' groups have been calling on DepEd to halt the RPMS implementation in line with Executive Order No. 61, signed by President Marcos on June 3, which suspends the RBPMS and the Performance-Based Incentive System (PBIS) in government work.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/8/dep-ed-urged-to-clarify-suspend-implementation-of-rpms-for-sy-2023-2024
Positive first step
Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines welcomed Angara’s announcement of the RPMS suspension.
ACT described Angara’s move as a “positive first step in the right direction” but emphasized the need for “further action.”
"We are pleased that Secretary Angara has heeded our call to suspend the RBPMS,” ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua said in a statement. This was among their priority requests during the initial dialogue with Angara.
"The suspension of RBPMS will provide much-needed relief to our teachers who have long been burdened by excessive paperwork and administrative tasks that detract from school opening preparations and actual teaching,” Quetua added.
ACT also urged Angara to immediately revoke DepEd's commitment to the Civil Service Commission for the submission of the Individual Performance Commitment Form (IPCRF), which has proven burdensome to teachers.
“If the CSC requires the submission of performance evaluations, an alternative should be crafted by DepEd in collaboration with teachers' unions,” Quetua suggested.
While acknowledging this positive development, ACT has requested another dialogue with Angara to comprehensively discuss other pressing issues affecting teachers and the education sector.
Quetua expressed hope for another productive dialogue with Angara soon to address crucial matters such as substantial salary increases, the DepEd 2025 budget, career progression, and teaching overload.
“We hope that the new DepEd leadership will continue to be responsive to the needs and welfare of teachers and education workers and prioritize our concerns which were not given due attention by the previous Secretary,” Quetua said.
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