Manila, Philippines - Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has recommended allocating PHP1.9 billion for hiring additional non-teaching staff in public schools to alleviate teachers' workload and improve teaching quality.
According to Philippines News Agency, During the plenary debates on the Department of Education's (DepEd) 2024 budget, Gatchalian, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, learned that no funds had been allocated for hiring non-teaching personnel. He proposed the substantial amount to hire 5,000 administrative officers and 3,000 project development officers to assist teachers with administrative responsibilities. Gatchalian emphasized that this measure is a practical solution to enhance efficiency in classrooms. He cited a 2019 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), which highlighted that teachers' actual teaching time is often overshadowed by administrative and student support roles, including participation in various programs like mass immunizations, deworming, and elections. Gatchalian had previously urged the DepEd to conduct evidence-based studies on teacher workload to rationalize job functions and improve learner outcomes. He also plans to file amendments to the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers to address current challenges and needs faced by educators.