DBM APPROVES 16,000 NEW TEACHING POSITIONS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved 16,000 new teaching positions for public schools for school year 2025–2026.

The DBM made the announcemen in a press release on Sunday, marking the first tranch of the 20,000 teaching positions that the government aims to create this year.

“The DBM’s approval of the 16,000 new teaching positions is in adherence to our President’s directive to strengthen our country’s education system. This move is also in support of the Department of Education’s efforts to boost the teaching workforce across kindergarten, elementary, junior high school, senior high school, and the alternative learning system.” said Budget Secretary Mina Pangandaman.

The breakdown of the approved new positions includes:
• 15,343 Teacher I posts (at Salary Grade 11)
• 157 Special Science Teachers (at Salary Grade 13)
• 500 Special Education (SPED) Teachers (at Salary Grade 14)

The necessary funding, amounting to P4.194 billion, will be sourced from the Department of Education’s already allocated budget within the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

In a move to enhance flexibility in staffing, the DBM also announced that senior high school teaching positions will be created at the division level.

This will empower school division superintendents to strategically transfer or reassign teachers to the schools where they are most needed.

The DBM clarified that this arrangement had been previously approved back in 2016.