Teachers’ Workload Rationalization Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 JUL 15 A9:39 SENATE RECE:VI Senate Bill No. 598 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT RATIONALIZING THE WORKLOAD OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Teachers are the heart of the country's education system. Yet for decades, many have been burdened with responsibilities that extend beyond their core instructional duties. From preparing lengthy reports and attending weekend seminars to fulfilling administrative and logistical assignments, these additional tasks consume their personal time, compromise teaching focus, and hinder professional growth. Recognizing these long-standing concerns, the Department of Education (DepEd) issued Department Order No. 005, s. 2024 to rationalize teachers' workload in public schools. This bill seeks to institutionalize and strengthen policy reforms to uphold the welfare and dignity of our teachers. First, it rationalizes teaching workload by clearly defining the parameters for instructional hours, ancillary tasks, and the equitable division of responsibilities between teaching and non-teaching personnel. Second, it regulates the conduct of trainings and seminars by requiring them to be relevant, time-bound, and respectful of teachers'

rest days, prohibiting excessive scheduling of such activities during weekends or vacations unless strictly necessary. Third, it mandates the streamlining of paperwork by eliminating redundant documentation, limiting the frequency of submissions, and adopting centralized and accessible reporting systems to reduce administrative burden. Lastly, it formalizes the grant of applicable compensation for tasks rendered beyond regular work hours. By enacting this measure, Congress will not only address the persistent grievances of teachers but also affirm its commitment to making teaching a dignified, focused, and respected profession once more. Empowering our teachers is essential to empowering our learners. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ERWIN T. TULFO

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) JUL 15 A9:39 RECENCOS. SENATE Senate Bill No. 598 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT RATIONALIZING THE WORKLOAD OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the

"Teachers' Workload Rationalization Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy

5 of the State to promote and protect the rights, well-being, and 6 professional dignity of teachers by ensuring fair and equitable 7 distribution of workload. The State shall ensure that teachers are not overburdened by tasks that hinder the effective delivery of quality education. Towards this end, the State shall foster a work environment where teachers are focused on their role as facilitators of learning.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a) Actual Classroom Teaching refers to the formal delivery of lessons to pupils or students in a classroom setting using various learning delivery modalities;

b) Administrative Personnel refers to public school teachers whose primary functions include administrative, clerical, logistical, and support services; c) Classroom refers to any physical, virtual, or alternative learning space in schools, households, or communities used for teaching and learning engagements; d) Non-instructional tasks refer to responsibilities not directly related to actual classroom teaching nor primarily instructional in nature; e) School Heads refer to persons with administrative and instructional supervision over a school or cluster of schools, as provided for in Republic Act (RA) No. 9155, otherwise known as the "Basic Education Act of 2001." For purposes of this Act, a duly designated Teacher-in-Charge (TIC) shall be considered a School Head; f) Teacher Ancillary Tasks refer to work incidental to teaching duties, including but not limited to curriculum planning, delivery and pedagogy, assessment of learner's progress, and homeroom guidance and management, among others; g) Teaching-Related Assignments refer to tasks related to teaching and academic learning which support learner development. These tasks are performed by teachers in consideration of their professional expertise and experience; h) Teaching Overload refers to actual classroom teaching over the prescribed six (6) hours of actual classroom teaching in a day. The allowable teaching overload shall not exceed two (2) hours a day or ten (10) hours a week, subject to proper compensation. i) Teaching Personnel refers to public school teachers whose primary function is instructional in nature;

j) Teaching Workload refers to the total number of hours or minutes rendered by a teacher on actual classroom teaching; and k) Vacation Service Credits (VSC) refer to leave credits earned by public school teachers for services rendered during authorized activities during long periods with no classes, which can be used to offset absences or late appointments.

SEC. 4. Rationalization of Teaching Workload -

(a) Teaching personnel shall render eight (8) hours of work per day, of which six (6) hours shall be devoted to actual classroom teaching. The remaining two (2) hours shall be allocated for teacher ancillary tasks. No teaching personnel shall be required to submit documentary evidence or accomplishment reports for the performance of ancillary tasks conducted outside school premises. Teaching personnel shall not be assigned non-instructional tasks that exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of their total working hours. Their primary responsibility shall remain the effective delivery of instruction. (b) Administrative personnel shall be given priority in the assignment of non-instructional tasks, and where necessary, may be assigned temporary teaching loads, teaching-related assignments, or ancillary duties: Provided, That such additional assignments shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of their total working hours and shall not unduly intertere with the performance of their primary responsibilities.

SEC. 5. Role of School Heads. - School heads shall ensure that

the assignment of tasks observes the principles of equity and workload balance to prevent overburdening of both teaching and administrative personnel. Regular workload reviews shall be documented and be made available for review by the Department of Education (DepEd).

SEC. 6. Regulation of Trainings and Seminars. - All trainings,

seminars, workshops, and other professional development activities required by the DepEd or its regional and division offices shall be

1 limited to subject matters that are directly relevant to the teachers' 2 professional development or aimed at improving learning outcomes. When such activities are conducted during weekdays, the total time allotted thereto shall not exceed two (2) hours per week, and they shall not be scheduled in a manner that disrupts actual classroom instruction, except in cases of public emergencies or other circumstances declared by competent authority. In cases where such activities are scheduled during weekends, holidays, or vacation periods within the school year, the conduct of such activities shall not exceed once per academic quarter. Participation in such activities beyond their regular workload shall entitle the participating teachers to appropriate compensation or applicable service credits, in accordance with existing laws and regulations.

SEC. 7. Deployment of Support Personnel. - The DepEd shall

ensure that schools are assigned sufficient non-teaching support personnel, including but not limited to administrative officers, clerks, property custodians, and record officers to handle the operations of the school. b Priority shall be given to schools experiencing teacher shortages or a high administrative workload, in order to minimize the diversion of teaching staff toward clerical or logistical responsibilities.

SEC. 8. Streamlining of Paperwork - The DepEd shall

implement a streamlined system for school-based reporting and paperwork required from teachers with the aim of reducing the administrative burden on teaching personnel by: a) Developing a centralized and accessible reporting platform; b) Limiting the frequency of paperwork submissions; and c) Reducing redundant, or non-essential duplicative, documentation.

SEC. 9. Payment of Teaching Overload Pay. - Teaching overload

shall be compensated through teaching overload pay equivalent to at least twenty five percent (25%) of the teacher's regular remuneration. Payment shall be made quarterly, subject to the availability of funds.

SEC. 10. Grant of Vacation Service Credits. - Teacher ancillary

tasks and teaching related assignments performed by teachers beyond & their regular work hours shall be compensated through the grant of 9 VSCs, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial

12 implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DepEd. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety

(90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this

Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof not so declared shall remain valid and effective.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, orders,

issuances, rules, and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect within fifteen

(15) days following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,