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HAVING less will now mean more for the teaching profession in public
schools, as Education Secretary Jesli Lapus finally signed the
implementing guidelines allowing teachers to render six hours of
actual classroom teaching instead of the usual eight hours—a rule
stated in the teachers’ Magna Carta for the last 42 years.
In a turnover ceremony held outside the
Department of Education’s main office in Pasig City, Lapus
presented the guidelines to the members of the Teacher’s Dignity
Coalition, who have been prodding for the issuance of such
guidelines to restore the dignity of the teaching profession.
“The reduced classroom hours for teachers just
gave flesh to the Civil Service Commission ruling for six hours of
actual classroom teaching. The remaining two hours may be spent
within or outside the school premises for other in-teaching related
activities,” Lapus said.
“The will allow our public school teachers to
have more time to innovate and enhance classroom teaching,” Lapus
added, noting that the guidelines were finalized by agency in
consultation with principals and teachers.
The shortened teaching hours took effect on
Monday.
Based on Education Department Memorandum 291
series of 2008, public school teachers shall render at most six
hours of actual classroom teaching a day, except when undertaking
academic activities that require presence outside the school
premises such as educational trips.
Under the said memorandum, school heads shall
assign teaching loads to public school teachers to fully utilize the
six-hour actual classroom teaching.
The memo further states that being a class
adviser or being on special assignments, or both, for the entire
school year is considered as one teaching load.
Moreover, teachers who will work for eight hours
can now receive overtime pay under the new order. Overtime pay,
however, can only be claimed for actual teaching or work performed
within the school Premises.
-- James Konstantin Galvez
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