UMVA has learned that the Department of Education is set to flood schools with more than 22,000 brand‑new non‑teaching posts, a move designed to lift the crushing administrative burden from teachers across the nation.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara praised the swift action, saying the influx of staff will let teachers return to what matters most—engaging classrooms and higher‑quality learning.
Teachers’ unions had warned that the ambitious shift to a three‑term calendar would unleash a torrent of paperwork, grading revisions, and budget reshuffles, leaving educators stretched thin.
“It’s not just a calendar change; it’s a cascade of reforms that have left our teachers shouldering endless extra duties,” an ACT leader warned, urging the department to back its front‑line staff.
The newly approved positions break down into 6,000 School Principal I roles, 11,268 Administrative Officer II slots, and 5,000 Project Development Officer I posts, all earmarked for elementary and secondary schools.
Regional offices will issue the necessary staffing notices immediately, accelerating placement and ensuring schools feel the impact without delay.
In a parallel boost, the budget office cleared over 32,000 fresh teaching positions, spanning Kindergarten to Senior High and the Alternative Learning System, with special allocations for science and special‑needs educators.
Zamboanga Peninsula tops the deployment list, receiving 3,361 new posts—including 1,467 Teacher I slots—to plug critical instructional gaps, while Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao follow closely behind.
Funding for these appointments will be drawn from the department’s built‑in appropriations under the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act, cementing the government’s commitment to a more supportive, efficient educational environment.
