BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

In line with the President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administration’s commitment to take care of teachers, the Department of Education (DepEd) is set to renew and hire 7,062 school-based Administrative Support Staff under Contract of Service (CoS) across eligible public schools nationwide.

The initiative reinforces DepEd’s efforts to remove non-teaching tasks from educators, ensuring that they can dedicate more time to lesson preparation and student engagement. These personnel will provide clerical and administrative support to school heads, allowing teachers to focus on their core responsibility of teaching.

“Our teachers belong in the classroom, not behind paperwork. By ensuring that every school has the necessary support staff, we are taking a concrete step toward making the learning environment more focused, effective, and responsive to the needs of our students,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

The policy is aligned with DepEd Order No. 002, s. 2024, which mandates the immediate removal of administrative tasks from public school teachers, and DepEd Order No. 005, s. 2024, which rationalizes teachers’ workload and provides guidelines for compensating teaching overload.

DepEd has allocated additional Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds to cover the salaries of these personnel. Compensation will be based on the prevailing regional minimum wage, multiplied by 22 working days per month. The contract also includes a 12.5% premium, which will be paid in tranches.

Under the renewal and hiring guidelines, CoS personnel will assist with school operations such as preparing reports, coordinating school programs and activities, and handling other clerical tasks assigned by the school head.

Applicants must have at least a Senior High School diploma and basic administrative skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and the ability to operate office equipment. No prior work experience or training is required.

For the renewal process, incumbent CoS personnel must have met performance expectations based on their Terms of Reference and evaluation by their respective Schools Division Offices (SDOs). New hires will undergo a selection process, including a review of credentials and interviews conducted by school heads and SDOs.

Sec. Angara remains committed to improving working conditions for teachers and ensuring efficient school operations. By sustaining this initiative, the Department reaffirms its goal of strengthening the education system, recognizing that teachers can best serve students when freed from administrative burdens.

*All Photos from DepEd