DepEd Clarifies: Teachers Won’t Be Teaching Over Six Hours

Finally, some clarity! After months of teachers voicing their concerns, the Department of Education (DepEd) has issued a clear directive: teachers won’t be forced to teach more than six hours a day. Yes, you read that right! This comes straight from a recent memo signed by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and it’s all based on the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

So, what’s the deal? Teachers can still take on extra teaching hours, but there’s good news—they’ll get compensated for it. Any teaching beyond six hours will be paid for, but don’t worry, it won’t exceed two hours per day, as per Republic Act 4670.

How Does the Pay Work?

Let’s break it down. If a teacher’s monthly basic salary is P27,000 and they take on 22.75 hours of extra teaching for a month, they’ll get an additional P5,756.75 in their paycheck. Not bad, right? And if a teacher has already completed their six hours of classroom instruction, they’re good to go—no salary deductions will be made for the rest of the day.

Balancing the Load

Now, while the guidelines aim to ease teachers’ workload, some groups feel it’s still not hitting the mark. The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) argues that the six-hour teaching rule, under the Matatag curriculum, has added even more pressure on already overworked teachers. In some cases, teachers are asked to teach subjects they’re not even trained in! Imagine a reading teacher suddenly handling math—talk about a challenge.

The TDC is pushing for a suspension of these rules, arguing that they contradict the spirit of the Magna Carta. Teachers are passionate, hardworking individuals, and the last thing they need is an even more congested curriculum.

Fighting for Representation

Meanwhile, educators are making their voices heard in the political arena. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) is throwing its full support behind the Makabayan senatorial lineup, believing that genuine representation is key to solving the issues facing the education sector.

ACT’s message is loud and clear: it’s time to bring the education agenda to the Senate, and they believe the Makabayan slate is the team to do it. With candidates like ACT Teachers’ Rep. France Castro and Gabriela’s Rep. Arlene Brosas, the group is ready to push for real, lasting change in the halls of power.

A Call for Change

The education sector plays a vital role in shaping the future, and the ACT is urging teachers, school workers, and the public to rally behind these progressive candidates. They want to see a government that genuinely serves the people, and they believe this slate is ready to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

As ACT Chairman Vladimer Quetua said, “It’s high time that the voices of the majority of Filipinos are amplified in the Senate.”

So, what do you think? It’s time to make some noise for our teachers and education workers—because they deserve nothing less.