The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, February 6, fast-tracked the promotion of 2,915 public school teachers and school leaders in the National Capital Region (NCR), marking a major step in addressing long-standing career advancement backlogs in the basic education sector.

The newly promoted educators took their oath during a ceremony led by DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. serving as witness alongside Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay and senior DepEd officials.

DepEd said the mass promotions were made possible through a reformed system that combines appointments to natural vacancies and position reclassification under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) framework.

Under the Marcos administration, Angara said: “Inuuna natin ang guro—hindi lang sa salita, kundi sa malinaw na reporma na nagbibigay ng dignidad, pag-angat, at kinabukasan sa propesyon ng pagtuturo (We are prioritizing teachers—not just in words, but through concrete reforms that provide dignity, advancement, and a future for the teaching profession).”

DepEd said that of the 2,915 promoted educators, 2,186 advanced through available plantilla vacancies, while 729 were elevated through ECP reclassification, allowing qualified teachers to progress even without waiting for open positions.

The dual-track approach enables divisions to respond to varying staffing conditions while ensuring promotions remain merit-based and aligned with professional standards, DepEd said.

The fast-tracked process was designed to clear years-long promotion delays that had hindered the professional growth of teachers across NCR schools.

DepEd said the promotions are anchored on Republic Act No. 12288, or the Career Progression for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act of 2025, which established a competency-based career system with parallel tracks for classroom instruction and school administration.

Under the law, teachers may advance in rank and compensation while remaining in the classroom, while those pursuing leadership roles can progress through the school management track.

DepEd stressed that the system ensures equal pay and benefits across tracks and protects existing compensation.

Advancement is also tied to the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers, ensuring that promotions reflect performance, skills, and continuous professional development.

DepEd said the expanded career progression reforms aim to retain experienced educators in public schools by offering clearer opportunities for growth without forcing teachers to leave classroom teaching for administrative roles.

“By allowing educators to progress while remaining in the classroom, the reform helps retain expert teachers, raise morale, and strengthen learning outcomes for students,” the agency said.

Part of nationwide implementation

“As you take your oath today, you are renewing the promise that you have made to our children and to our nation because you carry a big responsibility every single day inside the classrooms and always extending way beyond school hours,” President Marcos said during the event.

“As your public servant, I believe that our fight to build a better government begins through education and through the people who mold the minds of our youth,” he added.

The ceremony was held under DepEd NCR’s guiding principle of RISE—Resilience, Integrity, Service, and Excellence—highlighting the role of educators as frontline drivers of education reform.

DepEd said the NCR promotions follow a similar oath-taking ceremony in Ilocos Region in January, where 789 teachers and school leaders were promoted under the same framework, signaling the nationwide rollout of the reform program.