2023’s Urgent Call: Public Schools Need to Hire More Teachers for Enhanced Education Quality

The issue of teacher shortages in public schools is a pressing concern that affects the quality of education and the workload of existing teachers. Presidential frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has proposed solutions to address this issue, emphasizing the need to hire more teachers and non-teaching personnel.

Public schools are grappling with a shortage of teachers and non-teaching personnel, leading to overburdened staff and compromised quality of education. Teachers are often required to take on ancillary duties outside their expertise, resulting in burn-out and fatigue. This situation has long been a cause of concern among educators, affecting their ability to concentrate on their primary responsibility – teaching.

Recognizing this predicament, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., a presidential frontrunner, has proposed to increase the number of non-teaching personnel in public schools. He believes that reducing the non-teaching loads of teachers is crucial to maintaining high-quality education. Many public school teachers are burdened with ancillary duties that don’t match their specialties. For instance, some teachers also serve as librarians, property custodians, nurses, canteen in-charge, or even athletic heads.

Marcos aims to change this unproductive system by filling the void in every public school and increasing the number of non-teaching personnel. This move, he believes, will relieve teachers from being overburdened with work, allowing them more time to prepare for their lessons and focus on their assigned subjects.

The mental health of teachers, which has been significantly affected during the pandemic, is another area of concern for Marcos. He believes that reducing the extra burden of teachers will help protect their mental health.

In addition to increasing the number of non-teaching personnel, Marcos plans to revisit the Department of Education (DepEd) K-12 program, increase the teacher’s salary, provide appropriate benefits for them, and hire more teachers on permanent status. He views these steps as crucial to addressing the long-standing issues in public schools.

The need to hire more teachers and non-teaching personnel is not only a matter of filling vacancies but also a strategy to improve the quality of education. Overworked teachers are less likely to deliver effective instruction, and their physical and mental health can be adversely affected by stress. Therefore, it is essential to create more positions so that schools can hire more teachers and non-teaching personnel.

The distribution of items in each school should be equitable so that they can hire more teachers, regardless of the proximity or relationship between the supervisor or principal and the person in charge of the item in the Division Office. This change in the system is extremely important for all public school teachers.

In conclusion, the need to hire more teachers and non-teaching personnel in public schools is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. By addressing this concern, we can improve the quality of education, reduce the workload of teachers, and create a more conducive environment for learning. – Doki | Helpline PH