In response to concerns about teacher workloads under the new MATATAG curriculum, Education Secretary Sonny Angara has pledged that the Department of Education (DepEd) will strictly enforce the six-hour maximum teaching period per day. This limit is mandated by Republic Act 4670, also known as the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.
During a recent event at the DepEd central office in Pasig City, Angara acknowledged that some teachers have been teaching more than the allowed six hours. “We need to be very strict about that so that our teachers won’t get overworked and burned out,” Angara emphasized.
Addressing Overloads and Mismatched Assignments
The Department has also received reports of teachers being assigned subjects outside their expertise. Angara highlighted the need to address these mismatches to ensure teachers are not overwhelmed by unsuitable teaching loads.
To alleviate administrative burdens, DepEd is working to hire more administrative staff. Although 5,000 new staff members will be hired this year, Angara noted that they have requested funding for an additional 10,000 positions. “Clusters of three schools to one administrative officer are difficult,” he said, stressing the need for more support.
Teachers’ Concerns with the MATATAG Curriculum
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has raised concerns about the MATATAG curriculum, which they say increases teachers’ workloads by 30%. This increase comes from additional teaching loads, with teachers potentially handling up to eight classes instead of six.
“This means more students and classes to focus on, more outputs to check, and more grades to compute,” the ACT stated. Extended class hours for students, some lasting until 8 p.m., have also raised safety concerns.
Criticism of DepEd Order No. 5
The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) criticized DepEd Order No. 5, which mandates six hours of classroom teaching plus two hours for additional tasks. TDC chairman Benjo Basas argued that this policy contradicts the Magna Carta’s intent, which allows for less than six hours of teaching with breaks.
“Some teachers handle 7-8 sections without breaks, affecting their well-being,” Basas said. He also warned that teachers could be declared excess and transferred if they do not meet these requirements, which violates the Magna Carta.
Implementation of the MATATAG Curriculum
The MATATAG curriculum, launched in August 2023, will be implemented nationwide in phases. This school year, it applies to Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4, and 7, with other grades to follow in subsequent years. The curriculum for senior high school is expected to be revised by the end of 2024.
Angara also signed a memorandum in late July to create a task force that will review the implementation of DepEd’s Results-Based Performance Management System policy and teacher workload requirements. This task force aims to ensure that teachers’ duties are manageable and in line with their capabilities.
The DepEd’s efforts aim to balance the demands of the new curriculum with the well-being of teachers, ensuring a more sustainable teaching environment in the Philippines.
