Government Opens 16,000 Teaching Positions to Tackle Learning Crisis
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has recently approved the creation of 16,000 new teaching positions for public schools for the 2025-2026 academic year. This move is seen as a vital step toward addressing the country’s escalating learning crisis. Local education advocates highlight that hiring additional teachers is essential to improving learning outcomes nationwide.
Experts note that the hiring of these teachers aligns with the urgent need to fill vacant government roles, as one in every ten positions remains unoccupied. This shortage is especially pressing in the education sector, where the lack of qualified educators directly impacts student performance. As community leaders point out, “In a country where education is the linchpin of progress, hiring motivated and effective teachers has never been more critical.”
Addressing Functional Illiteracy Through Expanded Teaching Staff
Recent studies reveal that approximately 18 million Filipinos are functionally illiterate, underscoring the severity of the learning crisis. To combat this, stakeholders emphasize not only the importance of hiring additional teachers but also ensuring that these positions are promptly filled.
Local education officials urge the Department of Education (DepEd) to revise its recruitment and appointment procedures. Currently, the average hiring process takes about six months, which delays efforts to staff schools adequately. One community leader stressed, “Sa pagsugpo natin ng krisis sa edukasyon, patuloy nating pagsikapang may sapat at mahuhusay na mga guro sa mga paaralan.”
Beyond Teachers: Filling Critical Support Roles
Aside from regular teaching positions, there is a growing need for special education teachers, guidance counselors, and administrative personnel. Reports indicate that shortages in these areas also hamper the quality of education delivered to students.
Efforts are underway to collaborate closely with education authorities to ensure that a well-rounded team of educators and support staff leads classrooms and school programs. Recent legislation, such as the Excellence in Teacher Education Act, aims to enhance teacher quality by strengthening the Teacher Education Council and providing scholarships.
Supporting Teacher Professional Growth
The new law also promotes ongoing professional development and career advancement opportunities for teachers. This initiative is expected to build a more diverse, highly trained, and qualified pool of educators capable of addressing the evolving needs of Filipino students.
Community leaders remain committed to sustaining these efforts, emphasizing that there will be no slowdown in supporting teachers’ professional growth and ensuring students receive quality education.
For more news and updates on the learning crisis, visit Filipinokami.com.