DepEd discussing teachers' service credit for extended work amid pandemic

The Department of Education is already in discussion with other agencies for the service credit for teachers which will compensate them for their extra working days amid the extended working school year.

At a briefing of the House committee on basic education and culture, Director III Jennifer Lopez of the DepEd's Bureau of Human Resources and Organizational Development (BHROD), said the matter is already being discussed with the Civil Service Commission, noting that the service credit is "almost ready."

"Pinagaaralan na po namin ngayon and currently po mayroon na po kaming draft doon sa service credit to be received by teachers, in excess of the one allowed by law na 205 school days and then aside from 205, maeextend pa rin  po 'yun eh," Lopez said.

"Lahat po 'yun ay pinaguusapan na po namin with Civil Service and then we will be requesting for service credit for all these number of days na talagang lumampas po sa legally-allowed na number of days ng taong ito," she added.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro has been saying that teachers should be properly compensated amid the extended working school year.

Castro noted that pursuant to Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No 40. s. 1998, as amended by CSC MC no.9.s. 2012, public school teachers are entitled to proportional vacation pay.

She said service credit is a privilege granted to teachers for days that they are required to work outside of their regular workdays, which they can use to offset their absences.—LDF, GMA News