The Department of Education (DepEd) has released implementation guidelines to rationalize teachers’ workload in public schools and provide compensation for teaching overload, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize educators’ welfare.
The guidelines, outlined in DepEd Order No. 005, s. 2024, and supplemented by DepEd Memorandum No. 053, s. 2024, aim to create a more balanced and sustainable environment for teachers, ultimately enhancing student learning outcomes.
According to the guidelines, teachers are not required to teach more than six hours per day, as stipulated in the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (Republic Act No. 4670).
In exceptional cases where teachers exceed this limit, they will be eligible for overload pay for up to two additional hours per day.
The guidelines also provide for the management of teaching overloads, with clear procedures for compensation and equitable workload distribution.
Teachers performing work beyond their regular six-hour load may earn Vacation Service Credits (VSC), providing additional recognition for their contributions.
In addition, teachers will have flexibility in completing ancillary tasks, with the option to perform them inside or outside school premises, without additional reporting requirements.
The DepEd will provide standardized templates and materials through its online platforms to facilitate the smooth rollout of the policies.
An implementation team, led by the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, will oversee the policy’s enforcement across all schools.
“We are creating a more balanced and sustainable environment for our educators by optimizing teachers’ workloads and providing fair compensation for additional duties,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
The guidelines are available on the DepEd website.
