4 months ago
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THE Department of Education (DepEd) has committed to deploy over 15,000 qualified teachers as principals, issue guidelines, and update the existing process of principal hiring in public schools in response to the urgent need for school heads, on Feb. 11, 2025.
ADDRESSING PRINCIPAL SHORTAGE The Department of Education will reclassify 14,761 Head Teachers (I to V) as School Principal I, while 954 Head Teachers VI and Assistant School Principal II positions will be retitled to School Principal I to address the shortage. DEPED PHOTO
According to the Year 2 report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education, or Edcom II, 55 percent of public schools in the Philippines operate without principals.
This shortage is driven by several factors, including historically low passing rates for the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH), high personnel turnover, an insufficient pipeline of candidates, burdensome qualification processes, and the absence of structured mentoring, coaching and formal induction programs.
DepEd will implement several key interventions starting this year. The first step is deploying the existing pool of NQESH passers — 7,916 as of 2024 — to fill vacant principal positions with qualified personnel.
"This pressing issue is an eye-opener. So many of our schools operate without brains because that's what our principals are, the brains of our schools. Rest assured, DepEd is taking swift action to address this problem," Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.
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Additionally, DepEd will issue interim guidelines to ensure that principals detailed to offices return to their assigned schools.
These guidelines will also facilitate the reassignment of surplus principal positions to schools in need.
DepEd will reclassify 14,761 Head Teachers (I-V) as School Principal I, while 954 Head Teachers VI and Assistant School Principal II positions will be retitled to School Principal I.
Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development Wilfredo Cabral ensured that these steps would be closely monitored to ensure their efficiency.
"We owe it to our hardworking and visionary principals, who are often overlooked. DepEd recognizes your passion to keep our schools operating and running, thank you for your selfless service," Cabral stated.
