DepEd broadens teachers’ workload credits

Public school teachers may soon receive official workload credit for non-classroom duties, including student counseling and peer mentoring, under a proposed policy to expand the definition of teaching hours, Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced Thursday.

Speaking to reporters following a mass oath-taking ceremony for newly promoted educators and school heads in Davao City, Angara said the shift aims to recognize administrative and supportive responsibilities teachers routinely carry out beyond direct instruction.

“Previously, only actual teaching was credited toward the teaching load. But we will define it more widely,” Angara said.

Under the planned guidelines, the Department of Education will include hours spent conducting student counseling and participating in Learning Action Cell sessions — peer-led collaborative groups where educators share effective classroom strategies and curriculum practices.

Angara clarified that broadening the scope of recognized work hours will not introduce new subjects or add academic requirements to the national curriculum.