In a significant move to enhance career growth opportunities for public school teachers, the Department of Education (DepEd), led by Secretary Sonny Angara, signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Expanded Career Progression System on Friday, July 26.
“This is truly something that we can all be proud of, and more than that, masisiyahan ang ating mga guro (our teachers will be happy),” said Angara during his speech at the ceremonial signing of the IRR of Executive Order No. 174 s. of 2022, which establishes the “Expanded Career Progression System for Public School Teachers.”
This development is considered a landmark in the Philippine education sector as it promises a more structured and rewarding career path for teachers nationwide.
Giving teachers freedom
Angara explained that with the signing of the IRR, teachers will have “more freedom” regarding their career paths.
“The teacher does not have to change careers just to become an administrator or to get a higher position,” Angara explained, noting that the new IRR ensures that career progression will no longer be time-based or position-based.
With the new IRR, Angara said teachers will have a choice. “He or she can move freely from one track—from the teaching track to the administrative track—so hindi naisasakrispisyo yung kalidad ng ating edukasyon kasi nandoon pa din yung choice ng teacher (The quality of our education is not sacrificed because the choice of the teacher is still there),” he added.
With this, Angara noted that “teachers can still teach and the students will benefit from that teacher’s experience, from that teacher’s skills going forward.”
Empowering teachers
DepEd Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral explained that the initiative is a “significant step towards our shared commitment to ensuring the professional growth and development of our teachers.”
This, he added, is in line with the key initiatives of DepEd’s education agenda: to “support our teachers so that they can teach better.”
Cabral said that at least 900,000 teachers will benefit from the career progression system. Aside from Angara, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Karlo Nograles, and Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) Chair Charito Zamora also expressed their support for the initiative.
No teacher will retire as ‘Teacher 1’
Executive Order 174, which President Marcos has endorsed, aims to “address long-standing concerns about the slow promotion process for public school teachers.”
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Marcos stressed that no public school teacher should retire as Teacher I—highlighting the need for a more dynamic career progression system.
Under the new IRR, the Classroom Teaching Career Line will now include additional teaching positions: Teacher IV (SG 14), Teacher V (SG 15), Teacher VI (SG 16), Teacher VII (SG 17), and Master Teacher V (SG 22).
For those pursuing administrative roles, the career path will feature streamlined positions: School Principal I, School Principal II, School Principal III, and School Principal IV.
DepEd noted that a significant aspect of this reform is the flexibility it offers teachers.
For those who qualify for Master Teacher, they can choose between remaining in classroom teaching or moving into school administration.
This option ensures that highly skilled teachers can aspire to leadership roles, thereby enhancing the quality of school management.
DepEd, in collaboration with the DBM, will also reinforce reclassification processes.
This will allow teachers to progress based on merit and competence rather than waiting for teaching positions to become available, DepEd said.
Moreover, DepEd assured that it will also work closely with the CSC and PRC to “standardize qualifications for teaching positions across all levels of basic education”—including Senior High School (SHS).
“This alignment aims to create a more cohesive and fair system for teacher advancement,” DepEd said. “With these reforms, public school teachers can look forward to a more rewarding career trajectory, ensuring their professional growth and improving the overall quality of education in the Philippines,” it added.
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