Teachers seek clear-cut policy on working hours

THE CALM BEFORE THE CLASSES | Public school teacher Julieta Golez rearranges the chairs in her classroom on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2022, in preparation for Monday’s school opening. (File photo by JANE BAUTISTA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Teachers’ groups on Monday called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to issue a “clear-cut policy” on the implementation of working hours after teachers were reportedly forced to render more than the required six hours of teaching due to a shortage of personnel.

According to the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), the insufficient number of teaching personnel had prompted schools to either resort to bigger class sizes, which led to overcrowding in classrooms, or longer working hours for teachers.

“It is only the fourth week since classes started but the teachers are extremely tired because of paper works, reports, and online tasks, aside from [in-person] classes,” said Benjo Basas, the group’s national chairperson.

Basas said they received reports from the field that teachers were being given excessive workload and longer teaching hours “worse than the prepandemic situation.”

‘Six-hour workday’

The group pointed out that as early as 2008, the Civil Service Commission (CSC), through CSC Resolution No. 080096, had ordered the DepEd to release guidelines on the “six-hour workday,” or the policy mandating teachers to stay in the school for only six hours while the remaining two hours to finish other tasks could be brought home or anywhere convenient to them.

But the DepEd, TDC said, failed to implement the resolution despite subsequent issuances from former Education Secretary Jesli Lapus in 2008 and 2009.

“Until now, many teachers are forced to stay in their respective schools for eight hours or more, even without classes or official functions,” Basas said.

“This issue has been a perennial problem in most schools and has always been the main cause of conflicts in schools between teachers and administrators,” he added.

In a separate statement, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers urged the DepEd to hire additional teaching staff to spare teachers from heavier teaching and nonteaching duties.

“DepEd is squeezing us dry with the six hours of teaching load as many of us are forced to work overtime,” said Vladimer Quetua, ACT chair.

RELATED STORIES

Not enough rest for teachers in DepEd’s 2023 school calendar — solon

Teachers’ benefits under 60-year-old law still ‘mere promises’ – Senate panel

Bongbong Marcos orders study of DepEd-proposed non-wage benefits for teachers instead of pay hike