EDCOM 2: Landmark bill on teacher and school principal promotions passed

A landmark piece of legislation designed to overhaul the slow and restrictive career advancement system for public school teachers and school principals is now awaiting the President's signature. The reconciled version of Senate Bill 3000 and House Bill 10270, which institutionalizes a new Career Progression System for educators, was ratified by the bicameral conference committee on the final day of the 19th Congress.

The measure, championed by Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) Commissioners Sen. Win Gatchalian, Rep. Roman Romulo, Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Joel Villanueva, and Rep. Jude Acidre, directly confronts the systemic issues that have left many Filipino teachers waiting over a decade for a promotion.

The bill addresses the gaps in teacher promotion opportunities by establishing two distinct career lines: the Teaching Career Line for teachers who wish to remain in classroom instruction, and the School Administration Career Line for those involved in managing and leadership roles in the school.

These career tracks are designed to be equivalent in terms of salary grades, benefits, and professional recognition, ensuring that teachers who choose to specialize in classroom teaching are valued equally as those in administrative positions.

The bill also removes "natural vacancy" as the primary basis for teachers' promotion. "Natural vacancy" refers to the separation from service of an incumbent of a position, for causes such as resignation, retirement, demotion, dismissal, or other forms of separation. Instead, the bill seeks to implement a standards-based assessment system for promotion, which will now be based on merit, fitness, and competence. This assessment will serve as a prerequisite for promotion, and will assess qualifications and professional standards rather than simply years in service.

The proposed law responds to the findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which identified significant barriers within the current career progression system, among them a shortage of available plantilla positions in schools and school division offices. This shortage has prevented many qualified teachers and school leaders from moving up in rank, resulting in a slow pace in career advancement. Under the current system, teachers currently spend an average of 15 years advancing from Teacher I (Salary Grade 11) to Teacher III (Salary Grade 13).

EDCOM 2's analysis also found that the Position Classification and Compensation Scheme (PCCS), as outlined in the DBM Manual (Chapter 6, 2004), stipulates a quota system that further exacerbates the issue. Master Teacher positions in elementary schools are capped at just 10% of total teacher positions, 6.6% for Master Teacher I and 3.4% for Master Teacher II.

Secondary schools face similar restrictions, with only one Master Teacher position allowed per subject area for every 5 to 7 authorized teaching positions. As a result, many teachers are left with no option but to shift into head teacher or administrative roles in order to access better pay and benefits.

The bill builds upon the implementing rules and regulations of Executive Order (EO) No. 174, which laid the groundwork for an expanded career progression system. Compared to the EO, the bill expands the scope of the Career Progression System to include school leaders, and provides funding for the system through an annual allocation in the national budget. The bill also seeks to create specific new teaching positions on top of the ones created by the EO, specifically Master Teacher VI and School Principal V.

The bill also includes provisions to support teachers and school leaders who do not pass the required assessments. Those who fail two consecutive attempts will be enrolled in a free and customized support program developed by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP). Moreover, the measure guarantees that there will be no demotion in rank or reduction in salary, benefits, or privileges for incumbent teachers and school leaders.

Crucially, the Act also stipulates that promotion in the Teaching Career Line "shall in no case be based on arbitrary criteria such as the proportion of learners who achieve curricular expectations," emphasizing merit, fitness, and competence based on professional standards.

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