The Department of Education (DepEd) is struggling to fill teaching and non-teaching positions across Western Visayas, with the issue particularly affecting Negros Occidental and Iloilo Province. This problem threatens the region’s ability to deliver quality education, especially as the student population continues to grow.
Vacant Positions in Western Visayas
For 2024, DepEd Region 6 opened 2,151 new teaching positions. As of October 2024, only 1,535 of these have been filled, leaving 616 vacancies—about 29% of the new posts unfilled. In terms of non-teaching positions, the situation is even worse. Out of 768 newly created non-teaching posts, only 264 or 34% have been filled, with 508 positions still unfilled. These vacancies represent a significant challenge for DepEd and the schools in Western Visayas.
Negros Occidental: Struggling the Most
Negros Occidental faces the worst of these problems. Out of the 305 teaching positions allocated for 2024, only 20 have been filled, leaving 285 vacancies. This represents just 7% of the total positions filled, which has created significant gaps in the schools across the province.
Iloilo Province: A Significant Shortfall
Iloilo Province also faces a high number of vacancies. The province had 516 teaching positions opened, but only 305 have been filled so far, leaving 212 positions unfilled. Although Iloilo is doing slightly better than Negros Occidental, the situation remains critical, especially with the growing number of students.
Reasons for Hiring Delays
The hiring delays are primarily due to a shortage of human resource (HR) personnel. According to Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr. of the Schools Division Office (SDO) in Iloilo Province, the limited number of HR staff has slowed down the hiring process. He explained that Iloilo Province, despite having 42 municipalities and one city, has the same number of HR personnel as much smaller divisions like Passi City or Iloilo City. This lack of manpower makes it challenging to process the large number of applications.
“We are implementing strategies to speed up the process by increasing the number of people assisting our HR team,” Dr. Servillon said, although he did not provide specifics on what these strategies are.
Local Government Support
Despite the delays, Dr. Servillon expressed optimism that the hiring process would catch up by the fourth quarter of 2024. He also mentioned that local government units (LGUs) are helping by providing funds through the School Education Fund to hire additional teachers. However, the increasing student population remains a major challenge.
“There is no sufficiency in the number of teachers because we cannot control the increasing population every year,” Dr. Servillon added.
Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff in Region 6
As of September 2024, DepEd Region 6 had 78,223 teaching personnel. For non-teaching staff, there were 9,698 as of February 2024. While these numbers may seem large, they are still insufficient for the growing demands of the schools in the region.
Why It Matters
Having enough teachers and non-teaching staff is essential for providing quality education. When there are not enough teachers, class sizes increase, which can reduce the amount of attention each student receives. Non-teaching staff, such as administrative personnel and janitors, also play a crucial role in the smooth functioning of schools. Without them, schools struggle with paperwork, cleanliness, and other operational needs.
Teacher Salaries in Western Visayas
One of the reasons why filling teaching positions can be challenging might be the salary rates. While teacher salaries have been gradually increasing, they may still not be enough to attract more applicants, especially for positions in rural areas. Here’s a breakdown of the salary grades for teachers in the region:
- Teacher 1: Salary Grade 11 – ₱27,000
- Teacher 2: Salary Grade 12 – ₱29,165
- Teacher 3: Salary Grade 13 – ₱31,320
- Special Education Teacher 1: Salary Grade 14 – ₱33,843
- Special Education Teacher 2: Salary Grade 15 – ₱36,619
- Special Education Teacher 3: Salary Grade 16 – ₱39,672
- Special Education Teacher 4: Salary Grade 17 – ₱43,030
- Special Science Teacher 1: Salary Grade 13 – ₱31,320
- Special Science Teacher 2: Salary Grade 16 – ₱39,672
- Special Science Teacher 3: Salary Grade 19 – ₱51,357
- Special Science Teacher 4: Salary Grade 22 – ₱71,511
- Special Science Teacher 5: Salary Grade 24 – ₱90,078
Leadership Positions
Higher positions, such as head teachers and school principals, have a higher salary grade, which may encourage more experienced teachers to apply for promotions. Here are the salaries for leadership positions:
- Head Teacher 1: Salary Grade 14 – ₱33,843
- Head Teacher 2: Salary Grade 15 – ₱36,619
- Head Teacher 3: Salary Grade 16 – ₱39,672
- Head Teacher 4: Salary Grade 17 – ₱43,030
- Head Teacher 5: Salary Grade 18 – ₱46,725
- Head Teacher 6: Salary Grade 19 – ₱51,357
- School Principal 1: Salary Grade 19 – ₱51,357
- School Principal 2: Salary Grade 20 – ₱57,347
- School Principal 3: Salary Grade 21 – ₱63,997
- School Principal 4: Salary Grade 22 – ₱71,511
Challenges for Non-Teaching Staff
The problem of unfilled positions does not only affect teachers. Non-teaching personnel, such as clerks, accountants, and utility workers, are just as important in making schools run smoothly. Without enough non-teaching staff, schools face delays in administrative work, affecting overall efficiency.
Addressing the Issue
One of the strategies being implemented by DepEd to address the problem is to ask for support from local government units (LGUs) and increase the budget for hiring staff. It is also possible that offering additional incentives for teachers and non-teaching personnel to work in remote areas could help fill more vacancies.
What Needs to Be Done?
DepEd should continue improving its hiring process, possibly by increasing the number of HR personnel. More transparency about the strategies they plan to implement could also help build trust with the public. The shortage of teachers and non-teaching staff is not just a DepEd problem—it’s a problem for the entire education system in the region. More collaboration with LGUs and the national government will be necessary to ensure that these vacancies are filled as quickly as possible.
Conclusion
Filling teaching and non-teaching posts in DepEd Western Visayas has become a critical issue in 2024. With many positions still unfilled, particularly in Negros Occidental and Iloilo Province, students’ education and school operations are at risk. To ensure quality education for all, DepEd needs to speed up its hiring process, consider increasing salaries, and strengthen partnerships with local governments.
