Panayam kay Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, chairperson ng House Committee on Basic...

Summary

In a discussion with Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, concerns were raised regarding the implementation of the Department of Education's policy on a maximum of 6 hours of actual teaching per day for teachers. The conversation highlighted the physical, mental, and emotional strain this policy places on educators, especially with the lack of breaks and the potential for teaching hours to exceed the mandated limit. The need for policy adjustments to ensure teacher well-being and the effectiveness of teaching was emphasized, along with the importance of aligning the curriculum with job readiness for students in technical-vocational tracks.

Takeaways

• 📚 The Department of Education (DepEd) policy mandates a maximum of 6 hours of actual teaching per day for teachers, but the implementation has raised concerns.
• 🕒 The Magna Carta for public school teachers, a 1960 law, specifies a maximum of 6 hours for classroom teaching, with 2 additional hours for administrative work and lesson planning.
• 🏫 Schools have been implementing a double shift system, which can lead to teachers exceeding the 6-hour teaching limit and spending over 8 hours in school, affecting their well-being.
• 🤔 There is a call to revisit and adjust DepEd's Department Order Number 5 and 10 to ensure the health and well-being of teachers are considered.
• 📉 Concerns are raised about the continuous 6-hour teaching without breaks, which can be mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting for teachers.
• 🔄 The curriculum has seen a reduction in subjects but an increase in daily teaching requirements, which has led to stress among teachers and students.
• 📈 There is a push for DepEd to consider the mental health of teachers and the quality of teaching, suggesting that the current system may be negatively impacting education.
• 👨‍🏫 The discussion highlights the need for flexibility in teaching schedules, especially considering the varying needs of different classrooms and grades.
• 🛠️ For senior high school students in the tech-voc track, there is a need for more hands-on training hours to achieve higher National Certificate levels (NC3, NC4, NC5) for better job readiness.
• 🏢 Industry partners and boards are crucial in determining the required hours for hands-on training to ensure students are job-ready upon completion of their tech-voc track.
• 📝 The curriculum should be reviewed and developed to ensure that students, especially in the tech-voc track, are equipped with functional literacy, numeracy, and grade-level appropriate comprehension and mathematics skills.

Q & A

What is the main concern raised by the teachers regarding the Department of Education's policy on actual teaching hours?

The main concern is the implementation of the policy, which requires a maximum of 6 hours of actual teaching per day, exceeding the 8-hour workday when considering additional responsibilities like administrative tasks and lesson preparation.

What is the Magna Carta for public school teachers, and how does it relate to the current discussion?

The Magna Carta for public school teachers is a 1960 law that sets a maximum of 6 hours for classroom teaching, with 2 hours allocated for administrative work and lesson preparation. It is relevant because the current policy seems to overlook these additional responsibilities.

How does the double shift system affect the actual teaching hours and the workload of teachers?

The double shift system, where teachers have morning and afternoon classes, can lead to teachers exceeding the 6-hour maximum teaching time, thus increasing their workload and potentially affecting the quality of teaching due to fatigue.

What is the issue with the current curriculum in terms of subject distribution for senior high school students?

The issue is that the curriculum requires teaching all subjects every day, which can be stressful for students and teachers, and may not be the most effective way to deliver education.

What is the concern about the lack of breaks during the 6 hours of continuous teaching?

The concern is that continuous teaching without breaks can be mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting for teachers, which could negatively impact the quality of education.

What is the impact of the current policy on the quality of teaching and teacher well-being?

The policy may affect the quality of teaching if teachers become too fatigued due to long hours without breaks. It also raises concerns about the well-being of teachers who may feel stressed and overworked.

What is the role of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture in addressing these concerns?

The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, chaired by Congressman Romulo, is responsible for reviewing and potentially revising the policies to ensure the well-being of teachers and the quality of education.

How does the script suggest improving the situation for teachers and students?

The script suggests that the Department of Education should revisit and adjust its policies, particularly regarding the maximum teaching hours and the distribution of subjects, to better accommodate the needs of teachers and students.

What is the discussion about the immersion programs and hands-on experience for senior high school students?

The discussion highlights the need for more hours dedicated to hands-on training for tech-voc track students to ensure they are job-ready and can achieve higher levels of certification, such as NC3, NC4, and NC5.

What are the implications of the current policy on the job readiness of senior high school students?

The current policy may not provide enough practical experience for students, particularly in the tech-voc track, which could limit their job readiness and competitiveness in the job market.

What suggestions are made for the curriculum of senior high school to better prepare students for the workforce?

Suggestions include providing more hours for hands-on training, ensuring functional literacy and numeracy, and possibly reevaluating the structure of the academic track to offer different strands that do not limit students' options for further education.