The value of teachers’ service credits when they are required to work during vacation
Service credits for teachers are very important, especially for some teachers who have comorbidities or are already at the age of 40 or older and have experienced different illnesses. Teachers are considered absent if they are absent during school days. Their absence is not considered leave with pay due to PVP. Illness could not be controlled. Those illnesses occurred when the teachers were overworked and stressed.
Teachers have no budget for a regular checkup. Therefore, the bad health condition of teachers may appear due to a lack of monitoring of their health. If the teachers have no service credits, they are automatically absent. Once they are absent, their salary is automatically deducted. The teachers will suffer more when they get sick because their salary is deducted even if their net pay is too small.
Teachers have service credits if they have to work.Teachers are entitled to service credits when required to work (June 25-August 21, 2022). Public school enrollment nationwide will begin on Monday, July 25 and end on August 22, according to DepEd Order 034 s. 2022 or DepEd School Calendar and Activities for School Year (SY) 2022-2023).
Equivalent vacation service credits, pursuant to DepEd Order No.53, s. Teachers may be asked to report to the school if there is a memo stating that they are entitled to service credits equal to the number of days served. Corresponding vacation service credits in accordance with DepEd order 53 s., 2003 will be given to teachers who are required to report for work.
Here is the memorandum No. 53, s. 2003, entitled “Updated Guidelines on the Grant of Vacation Service Credits to Teachers.”
In line with the policy of this office to periodically review existing rules and regulations with a review to improve the delivery of education services , the various issuances on the grant of vacation service credits to teachers on a teachers’ leave basis are hereby updated and consolidated as follows:
A. Statement of Policy
The basic policy in the grant of vacation service credits is that it should be given only for work beyond regular functions or beyond regular work hours/days where payment of honorarium or overtime pay is not possible. In addition, there are situations wherein extraordinary work is demanded from teachers, including those that expose their lives to certain risks and for which monetary compensation is not enough. Thus, extra-monetary compensation is justified.
B. Definition of Terms
a. For the purpose of this order, the term “teacher” shall refer to teachers who do not have to report for classes during the Christmas and long summer vacation and still be entitled to their regular compensation.
b. The term “teachers’ vacation service credits” refers to the leave credits earned for services rendered on activities during summer or Christmas vacation or in the course of the regular school year, as authorized by the proper authority.
c. The term “normal teaching load” shall refer to six (6) hours of actual classroom teaching a day.
C. Uses of vacation service credits
Vacation service credits are used to offset the absences of a teacher due to illness. To offset absences on account of illness, one (1) work day service credit is used to offset one (1) day of absence.
D. Activities Eligible for the Grant of Service Credits
Service credits may be granted for the following activities:
a. Services rendered during registration and election days as long as these are mandated duties under existing laws;
b. Services rendered during calamity and rehabilitation when schools are used as evacuation centers;
c. Services rendered in connection with the conduct of remedial classes during summer or Christmas vacation or outside of regular school days;
d. Services rendered in connection with early opening of the school year;
e. Services rendered during school sports competitions held outside of regular school days;
f. Services rendered by those who train teachers in addition to their normal teaching loads;
g. Teaching in non-formal education classes in addition to teaching in formal education classes carrying a normal teaching load;
h. Work done during regular school days if these are in addition to the normal teaching load;
i. Conduct of testing activities held outside of school days; if these are in addition to the normal teaching load;
j. Conduct of testing activities held outside of school days; and
k. Attendance /participation in special DepEd projects and activities which are short-term in duration such as English Science and Math Mentors’ Training, curriculum writing workshop, planning workshop, etc., if such are held during the summer vacation or during weekends.
A premium of 20% may be granted for educational activities (as opposed to non-educational activities such as election duties, calamity assistance) which require specialized expertise.
E. Activities Not Eligible for the Grant of Service Credits
Service credits shall not be granted for the following activities
a. In-service training programs fully funded by the government;
b. Assignment to clerical work, such as checking forms and finishing reports commonly required in connection with the opening and closing of classes;
c. Reassignment in connection with exhibits at a fair;
d. Postponement of a regular teacher’s vacation; and
e. Time spent in travelling to and from station to the place where services are rendered.
So, service credits should be given to teachers for them to use when there are uncontrollable situations in which they need to be absent. If ever the teachers did not get sick during vacation or Christmas break and it arose during school days, what would the teachers do? The teachers need to file a leave of absence. Service credits are merely a hope for teachers so that their salaries will not be deducted. – Doki | Helpline PH
