DepEd: 61k new teacher posts almost filled up

(Updated 10:19 a.m.) - The 61,510 newly created posts for teachers for this year are almost filled up thanks to a streamlined hiring process, the Department of Education said over the weekend.

 

In a news release, the DepEd said that as of Friday, 56,085 of the 61,510 new posts—or 91 percent—had been filled up while the other 5,425 are being processed for appointment. 

 

"Under the previous practice, the entire recruitment and hiring process takes approximately eight months. By working closely with the Civil Service Commission and the Professional Regulation Commission, DepEd was able to reduce the hiring process to five months," the DepEd said.

 

Also, it noted some divisions and regions managed to fill up more than half of their allotted new teaching positions within three months.

 

The DepEd said 102,603 new teaching positions have been created since 2010.

 

"Of these, 91 percent are already occupied by new hires," it said.

 

A separate news release posted on the Official Gazette quoted DepEd Assistant Secretary of Education for Planning Jesus Mateo as saying some of the teachers awaiting their appointment may already be teaching under a contractual basis.

 

“While waiting for their papers, they may be asked to start work already. If, for some reason, their appointments are denied, they will still be paid for the work rendered," Mateo said.

 

He pointed out the new positions are permanent, and "we can’t just give them away.”

 

Mateo said they have to balance speed of hiring with a thorough assessment of qualifications.

 

“Whether fresh graduates or veteran contractual, what’s important is we hire the most qualified teachers for our schools,” he said.

In May, the DepEd announced it can afford to hire some 61,000 teachers this school year, as well as to pay the allowances of teachers redeployed to areas with a shortage of instructors. —KG, GMA News