July 26, 2024 - Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara has signed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Expanded Career Progression System for public school teachers. This new framework, established under Executive Order (EO) 174, aims to address the long-standing issue of slow promotion processes within the public school teaching sector.
The newly signed IRR introduces additional teaching positions within the Classroom Teaching Career Line, including Teacher IV (Salary Grade 14), Teacher V (SG 15), Teacher VI (SG 16), Teacher VII (SG 17), and Master Teacher V (SG 22). For those pursuing administrative roles, the career path will now include positions such as School Principal I, School Principal II, School Principal III, and School Principal IV.
Notably, public school teachers who achieve the Master Teacher I designation will have the choice to either continue in classroom teaching or transition into school administration.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated PHP 6.1 billion to support the implementation of this expanded career progression system, which is scheduled to take effect next year.
In his address, Angara emphasized that EO 174 provides teachers with more career flexibility. "So here under the new EO or implementing rules, mayroon na po siyang (they now have a) choice. He or she can go freely from the teaching track to the administrative track," Angara stated. He further assured that the new system will not compromise the quality of education, noting that teachers will still have the option to remain in teaching roles, thereby benefiting students with their enhanced experience.