Compliance culture in DepEd is now seen as a major reason why Philippine education is not improving fast enough. Many teachers and education experts say that following orders from the central office without thinking or adapting to local needs is stopping schools from becoming better learning places.
What Is “Compliance Culture” in DepEd?
The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines has many rules and memorandums that schools must follow. This is called a compliance culture. It means schools focus more on obeying instructions than on improving learning.
One teacher said in a consultation, “Our school is more policy compliant. Whatever instructions come from DepEd, that is what we do.”
In simple terms:
- Schools follow orders strictly.
- There is little space for change or creativity.
- Teachers worry about penalties if they do things differently.
How This Culture Hurts Education
Education experts, including the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2), say this culture stops progress. Instead of finding new ways to help learners, schools often just follow rules. This makes it hard to solve real problems in individual communities.
According to the Edcom 2 report, school leaders who tried new ideas risked criticism or penalties. Teachers who did extra work were sometimes labeled as “attention seekers.” This shows that the system discourages innovation.
Why Local Solutions Matter
Experts believe that decentralization — giving more power to local schools, cities, and communities — could help fix the education crisis.
The Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) organization says local leaders should take the lead in solving education problems. They think the principal, teachers, barangay captains, and mayors know their community better than the central office.
One PBEd leader said that while ideas can come from the national level, the actual work should be done locally. This could make education more responsive, flexible, and strong.
What Could Change With Decentralization?
Decentralization might help in several ways:
- Local governments can design school programs that fit their needs.
- Schools can respond faster to specific issues.
- Teachers can try new methods to help students learn better.
- Communities can work together to support education.
For example, if a town has many crowded classrooms, the local mayor can build more rooms. If the classrooms still lack teachers, the local government can assist hiring or training. This kind of action can make problems more visible and easier to solve.
Bigger Budget, Bigger Responsibility
The 2026 education budget in the Philippines is nearly ₱1 trillion. This is a very large amount, and experts say it should be used to improve learning outcomes, not just to pay for compliance tasks.
The PBEd leader said that the government should use this budget to:
- Address classroom backlogs with help from private partners.
- Improve the teacher pipeline — from training to hiring.
- Strengthen early childhood care and development.
- Provide more textbooks and learning materials.
- Include more stakeholders in education delivery, especially through decentralization.
What Needs to Happen Next
Experts say the next two years of the Marcos administration are critical. They want to see strong, decisive action in education.
They believe that moving away from strict compliance culture and towards local empowerment can help solve the education crisis.
If local government units (LGUs) are given real responsibility, parents and citizens can also hold leaders accountable. This can create more pressure to improve schools and help learners succeed.
Conclusion
The compliance culture in DepEd — where schools just follow orders — is not helping Philippine education. Instead, it slows down progress and blocks creative solutions. Experts say that giving more power to local communities and leaders can improve learning outcomes.
The Philippine education system needs changes that help students, teachers, and communities work together for better learning.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What does “compliance culture” mean?
It means following rules strictly instead of finding new and better ways to teach.
Who is Edcom 2?
The Second Congressional Commission on Education — a group that reviews how Philippine education works.
What is decentralization in education?
It means giving more control to local governments and schools instead of only to the national office.
Why is the education budget important?
A bigger budget can help improve classrooms, hire teachers, and provide learning materials, but it must be used well.
How can local leaders help schools?
They can create solutions that fit their community needs and help make schools better for students.
