The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines has made some changes to the way it provides Special Hardship Allowance (SHA) to public school teachers. These changes are important because they affect how many teachers can receive this allowance, which is extra financial support for those who work in challenging conditions.

What is the Special Hardship Allowance?

The Special Hardship Allowance (SHA) is additional pay given to public school teachers who work in difficult or hard-to-reach areas. This includes places that are far from cities, lack proper roads, or have challenging living conditions. The allowance is meant to help teachers who go the extra mile to educate students in these tough environments.

What Has Changed?

In 2021, DepEd set up guidelines to decide which teachers could receive the SHA. They used something called the Hardship Index (HI) to measure how difficult it is to work in a particular area. Schools with an HI of 0.37 or higher were considered hardship posts, meaning teachers there were eligible for the allowance.

However, in 2023, DepEd made an important change through DepEd Order No. 017, s. 2023. The HI cut-off was lowered from 0.37 to 0.33. This means more schools are now considered hardship posts, so more teachers can receive the SHA.

Why Is This Important?

By lowering the HI cut-off, DepEd is recognizing that more teachers are working in difficult conditions and deserve extra support. This change shows that the department is committed to helping teachers who are doing their best in challenging situations.

What Happens Next?

For the Fiscal Year 2024 and the years that follow, DepEd will use these new guidelines (from DepEd Order No. 017, s. 2023) to decide who gets the SHA. These guidelines will remain in place until new policies are introduced.

Who Can You Contact for More Information?

If you need more details about these changes or have any questions, you can reach out to the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development-School Effectiveness Division. They are located at the Department of Education Central Office in Pasig City. You can also contact them via email at [email protected] or by phone at (02) 8633-5397.

Final Thoughts

These changes to the Special Hardship Allowance guidelines are a positive step toward supporting more teachers who work in tough environments. It reflects DepEd’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that all teachers receive the support they need to provide quality education, no matter where they are in the country.

For those who want to read the full details of the memorandum, you can download it here.