The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines is now reviewing its classroom observation policy after a public school teacher died during a scheduled observation. Education Secretary Sonny Angara said DepEd is making changes to the policy to protect teacher welfare and address long‑standing concerns from educators about stress and pressure in evaluations.

In this article, we explain what happened, why the policy is being reviewed, and what changes DepEd is making. We use simple language so students and readers of all ages can understand the issue clearly.

What Happened?

A public school teacher from Pedro E. Diaz High School in Muntinlupa City died during a scheduled classroom observation. The Schools Division Office reported that the teacher “lost her life while fulfilling her dedication to education.” This sad event sparked grief among teachers, parents, and many people across the country.

After this incident, DepEd started reviewing its classroom observation policy to find out what went wrong and how to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

What Is a Classroom Observation?

A classroom observation is when a school leader or evaluator watches a teacher while they are teaching. The goal is to assess the teacher’s skills and performance in the classroom.

However, many teachers have long complained that classroom observations cause extra pressure and stress. Some said that surprise visits and being judged only on one day of teaching does not show a teacher’s real ability.

Why DepEd Is Reviewing the Policy

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said that the policy is under review because many teachers say the observation process can be too stressful. Teachers felt that the environment during observation was high‑pressure and could affect their performance unfairly.

Angara explained that classroom observation should not be the only factor used to assess a teacher’s performance. DepEd wants to make sure evaluations are fair, accurate, and supportive of teacher development.

What Changes Are Being Made

DepEd has already begun making changes to the classroom observation policy. The major changes include:

✅ Scheduled Visits Instead of Surprise Visits

Before, some observations were unannounced. Now, observations are scheduled in advance, so teachers know when evaluators will be in their classroom. This change aims to reduce stress and help teachers prepare better.

✅ Multiple Indicators for Evaluation

DepEd said it will no longer use classroom observations as the sole basis for evaluating teachers. Instead, evaluations now include multiple indicators, such as:

• Feedback from students and the school community
• Teacher portfolios
• Lesson planning
• Other professional activities

This way, a teacher’s overall performance is considered, not just one classroom session.

✅ Focus on Teacher Welfare

DepEd is also looking at how to make the entire evaluation system more supportive. This includes checking if teachers are healthy and ready for observations, and whether changes are needed to make the process fairer.

What the Investigation Found

DepEd also investigated the incident where the teacher died. Secretary Angara said the investigation showed:

🔹 There was no coercion or intimidation involved in the observation.
🔹 The teacher had an existing medical condition on the day of the observation.

Angara explained that the teacher’s health issue likely contributed to the tragic outcome, not any forceful or unfair evaluation practice.

Why Teachers Are Concerned

Teacher groups expressed sadness over the teacher’s death. They also renewed calls for a full review of DepEd’s evaluation policies. Teachers have long felt that:

• One classroom observation cannot fully show a teacher’s ability.
• Surprise visits add pressure.
• The current system may be unfair and stressful.

These concerns helped push DepEd to start reviewing the policy.

DepEd’s Next Steps

Secretary Angara said the policy review is still ongoing. DepEd will study whether more changes are needed to improve teacher evaluations while also caring for teacher welfare.

He also offered condolences to the family of the deceased teacher and to the Schools Division Office involved. Angara promised that DepEd will continue to work on policies that support teachers and ensure fairness in evaluation.

Why This Matters

Teacher evaluations are important. They help schools improve teaching quality and support professional growth. But if the process causes too much stress or focuses on only one part of a teacher’s work, it may not be fair.

By reviewing and improving the policy, DepEd aims to:

✔ Make evaluations more balanced
✔ Support teacher well‑being
✔ Create a fair system for performance review
✔ Reduce unnecessary stress during evaluations

This review could lead to better classroom observation practices nationwide.

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