Implementation of the Open High School Program

ABSTRACT

Title :             Implementation of the Open High School Program in

 Selected Public High Schools in Caloocan City North

Researcher : Kristofer E. Canillas

                       kristofercanillas@gmail.com

Degree :        Master of Arts in Education major in Educational

                      Management

School :        University of Caloocan City

Date  :           March, 2015

This study focused on the implementation of the open high school program in selected public high schools in Caloocan City North, more particularly in Tala High School, Camarin High School, Bagong Silang High School, Bagumbong High School, and Manuel Luis Quezon High School. It assessed the status of the implementation in terms of the knowledge in the curriculum, policy implementation, classroom management and guidance, and teacher’s capability and performance.

The study was delimited to the students, teachers and administrators of the open high school program, particularly the 20 percent of the respondents in the five big schools in the Caloocan City North, of which selected schools are 25 percent of all public schools in the area.

The researcher used two methods of data gathering, (1) Interview for the administrators and teachers and (2) Survey Questionnaire for the respondents.

This study hopes to benefit and help the following: (1) students, to air their feelings towards the program; (2) schools, to improve the program; (3) administrators, to create new style and techniques; (4) teachers, to develop and improve their teaching techniques; (5) Department of Education, to formulate effective policy and guidelines; (6) local government units, to create facilities and provide equipment for the students; and (7) future researchers, to use as guide, reference and starting point of their future studies.

This study showed that 60 percent of the teacher-respondents are knowledgeable in the implementation of the program, particularly its vision, mission, goals and objectives, requirements, curriculum and instruction, classroom management and guidance, policy implementation and relation of the local government in the program but 40 percent of them are not. It revealed that there are difficulties in implementing the objectives of the program, finishing it within prescribed period without problems, meeting the requirements and qualification of the students, adjusting curriculum and instructions to the students’ needs and current policy implemented with 67 percent, but 33 percent of them believed that the implementation is doing well.

Most of the schools implemented old curriculum of the open high school program at all levels, particularly Manuel Luis Quezon High School, Bagong Silang High School and Camarin High School but Tala High School and Bagumbong High School implemented both new and old curriculum. They implemented K-12 curriculum for Grade 7 to Grade 9, while old curriculum for the fourth year students, which will be the last batch in where old curriculum shall be used.

This study also revealed that the implementation of the open high school program is effective with the average 70-75 percent but 20-25 percent of the respondents believed that there are problems in the implementation that affect their learning process and these problems from the top to bottom are financial and budget, attitude, module, time and schedule, interest, learning process, chairs, laboratories and computer rooms, policy implementation, curriculum and instructions, guidance and book, teachers’ capability and performance and the least in rank are resources, materials and reference.

Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that 41 percent of the respondents are not knowledgeable in the implementation of the program. This is very alarming because those who teach the students are the ones who do not know the program and it is really a factor that leads to the dissatisfaction in its implementation. Most of the students are satisfied in the current policy of the program but some of the respondents or 15-20 percent of them, sought for the evaluation of the program to avoid the existing problems that students and teachers encountered in the process of implementation.

Based on the findings and conclusions of this study, it was recommended that there is a need for evaluation of the implementation of the program. It is also important to ask the help of the local government units in the open high school program to provide library resources since there is no available public library in Caloocan City North. It recommended for the enhancement of open high school program since it is very helpful to the out-of-school youth and dropout students. It also recommended the orientation for teachers, students and parents on open high school program to clarify misconception and misinterpretation of the program and meet its ultimate goals not only for the students but also for the community.

TDC National Seminar on DepEd Legal Process sa Palawan

Dinagsa ang isinagawang National Seminar on DepEd Legal Process ng Teachers' Dignity Coalition o TDC sa Angela's Resort sa San Jose, Puerto Princesa, Palawan noong March 3-5, 2017.

Halos Limandaang (500) deligado mula sa iba't ibang dibisyon sa bansa ang lumahok sa naturang pagtitipon mula sa inaasahan nitong mahigit 300 lamang na mga nagparehistro bago pa man ganapin ang gawain.

Iba't ibang paksa ang natutunan ng mga lumahok partikular na ang Magna Carta, Administrative at Civil Case, Legal Procedure, 6 Working Hours, Promotion, at iba pang kaalaman na may kinalaman sa mga guro ng bansa.

Nagkaroon naman ng open forum ang gawain upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga deligado na itanong at ipaalam ang kalagayan ng kanilang mga dibisyon na sinagot at pinaliwanagan naman ng mga umupong panel na speaker din sa naturang gawain.

Naging Panauhing pandangal at tagapagsalita ang ilang kawani ng Department of Education Central Office at Regional Offices. Kasama na rin ang ilang mula sa pribadong kumpanya at tanggapan.

Nagagalak naman ang National Chairman ng TDC at First Nominee ng Ating Guro Partylist na si Benjo Basas sa mga dumalo dahil maliban sa marami na itong natutunan sa mga aktibad, makatutulong din ito upang mapigilan ang maling gawain ng mga nakaupong pinuno ng paaralan, dibisyon, at maging sa iba't ibang tanggapan ng DepEd. Kasama na rin dito ang hindi makatarungang paglabas ng Joint Circular ng DepEd, DBM, at DILG.

Mabuhay ang TDC!

TDC, Tagumpay: 20Php Ibabalik sa mga Guro

Photo: Ms. Mineth Ignacio

Tagumpay ang Teachers' Dignity Coalition sa inilaban nitong argumento laban sa hindi makatarungang pagkaltas ng RPSU ng 20php mula sa mga guro ng National Capital Region para maging pondo ng ACT-NCR. Itoý matapos makipagdiyalogo kanina, November 2, 2016, ang ilang pinuno ng TDC at mga gurong apektado ng hindi makatarungang pagkaltas sa DepEd-NCR.

Kaharap sina NCR Regional Director Ponciano Menguito at iba pang opisyal ng DEPED-NCR, inilahad ng TDC at ilang mga guro ang hinaing nito laban sa biglaang pagkaltas sa kanila ngayong Oktubre.

Ayon kay TDC National Vice Chair Ramon Miranda, resulta ng naganap na diyalogo, ibabalik umano ang 20PHP na kinaltas sa October Payroll ng mga guro.

Masaya ring ibinalita ni TDC Caloocan Chair Jimboy Albiza na ititigil na ang hindi makatarungang pagkaltas. Nagsorry din umano ang Regional Director dahil sa mga pangyayari.

Photo: Ms. Marichu Gonzaga Nazareno

Nauna nang nagpasa ng pormal na sulat ang mga apektadong mga guro ng NCR. Anila, wala umanong abiso ang ACT-NCR sa pagkaltas sa kanila. Hindi rin umano sila pumirma ng kahit anong membership form para maging kasapi ng grupong ito.

Sa ngayon ay patuloy pa rin ang pagdagsa ng sulat sa DepED-NCR mula sa iba't ibang dibisyon upang ipatigil ang maling gawaing ito. 

Isa na naman itong tagumpay para sa mga guro na ipinaglalaban at pinoprotektahan ng Teachers' Dignity Coalition.

ANG PAGSINGIL SA ‘AGENCY FEE’ AY DAPAT NAAAYON SA UMIIRAL NA BATAS

ANG PAGSINGIL SA ‘AGENCY FEE’ AY DAPAT NAAAYON SA UMIIRAL NA BATAS

(Pahayag ng TDC-NCR hinggil sa biglaang pagkaltas ng DepEd-NCR ng P20.00 sa sahod ng mga guro)

Photo: Ms. Mineth Ignacio

Mabuti ang layunin ng Public Sector Unionism (o PSU sa ilalim ng EO 180), ng pag-uunyon at maging ng mga Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA), pero may mga bagay na dapat ikunsidera bago maningil ng agency fee sa non-members ang anumang unyon. 

Sa ginawang imposisyon ng DepEd-NCR nitong Oktubre kung saan ay sinimulang kaltasan tayong lahat ng P20.00 para sa ACT-NCR Union ay may malinaw silang paglabag sa karapatan ng mga guro, non-teaching personnel at maging mga principals sa Metro Manila (ang dalawang huling nabanggit ay hindi naman kabilang sa unyon ng mga guro). Totoong nakakagulat sapagkat walang malinaw na abiso bago ito ginawa. 

Lilinawin natin na ang may pagkukulang dito ay ang DepEd-NCR at hindi natin inilalagay ang sisi sa ACT-NCR Union. Sapagkat ang DepEd-NCR partikular ang Regional Payroll Services Unit (RPSU) ang may kapangyarihan sa ginawang pagkaltas. Gayunman, noong Oktubre 26 ay naglabas ng paglilinaw ang ACT-NCR Union sa kanilang Facebook account na nagtatanggol sa umanoy legal na pagkaltas. 

Bagamat may mga limitasyon ang EO 180, kinikilala natin ang pangangailangan sa pag-uunyon. Isa itong mabisang sandata ng mga manggagawa at empleyado ng gobyerno upang ipagtanggol ang kanilang interes at kapakanan. Maging ang Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670) ay kumikilala sa pagtataguyod ng mga samahan ng mga guro- mayroon tayong kalayaang sumapi sa anumang organisasyon o magtayo nito- sa antas lokal, panrehiyon o pambansa. Tungkulin din ng bawat isa sa atin, lalo na ng mga organisadong hanay ng mga guro ang magturo ng prinsipyo ng pag-oorganisa maging sa mga teknikalidad ng pag-uunyon. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit ang TDC-NCR ay nagparehistro rin bilang isang unyon. 

Subalit bakit nagdulot ng pagkadismaya sa mga guro ang pagkaltas ng P20.00 maging sa mga hindi kasapi ng ACT-NCR? Batay sa mga praktikal na obserbasyon sa sentimyento ng mga guro, hindi naman masama ang magkaltas sa kanilang sahod basta ba ito ay malinaw na pinag-usapan, ipinaliwanag sa kanya o pinahintulutan niya. Dahil kahit pa sabihing maliit lang ang sahod ng guro, ang P20.00 ay walang halaga kung ang katumbas naman nito ay proteksiyon sa kanyang karapatan at kagalingan. 

Bakit mayroong malawakan at ispontanyong pagtutol? Diyan may malaking problemang dapat i-recognize ang unyon. Ibig sabihin hindi na-educate ang mga guro hinggil sa kabuuan ng pag-uunyon, ng CAN lalo na ang sinasabing agency fee na ito. Napakahalaga na nauunawaan ng mga guro ang pag-uunyon at ang kanyang mga obligasyon upang ipaglaban niya mismo ito. 

Nais naming ipauna na ang mga karapatan at ilang benepisyong tinatamasa ngayon ng mga guro sa pambansang antas ay bunga ng tuluy-tuloy at kolektibong pagkilos ng iba’t ibang organisasyon. Walang iisang organisasyon ang maaaring magsabi o mag-claim na ang mga ito ay dulot ng kanilang pagkilos lamang. Ang mga rally, dayalogo, forum, lobbying, pahayag sa mga telebisyon, radyo, diyaryo at iba’t iba pang porma ng mga pagkilos at pakikiisa ay ginampanan ng lahat ng organisasyon- ACT, ASSERT, TDC, PPSTA at maging ng mga koalisyon gaya ng Education Network Philippines (E-Net). Kahit sabihin pang walang koordinasyon sa isa’t isa ang mga aksiyong ito, mananatiling ambag sa mga tagumpay ng kilusang guro sa kabuuang ang bawat isang pagkilos. 

Sa paliwanag mismo ng ACT-NCR ay sinasabi nilang puwedeng singilin ang agency fee kung nakikinabang ang mga non-members sa bunga ng CNA, kung may incentive o benepisyong nakukuha sila mula dito. Sa kaso ng CNA ng ACT-NCR at DepEd-NCR ay hindi ito malinaw. Halos lahat ng mga nakasaad sa CNA na ito ay dati nang mga karapatan na ipinagkakaloob sa atin sa ilalim ng Magna Carta at iba pang batas. Ang mas masaklap pa, marami rito ay hindi pa rin naipatutupad kaya naman patuloy ang ating pakikipaglaban sa lansangan at iba pang larangan upang kilalanin ng DepEd ang ating mga karapatan sa ilalim ng Magna Carta. 

Narito at inilista nila ang nilalaman ng kasunduan nila sa DepEd-NCR na ayon sa kanila ay sapat nang dahilan upang maningil sila ng agency fee kahit sa mga hindi nila kasapi. Suriin natin kung ano sa mga ito ang napakikinabangan nating lahat para lahat tayo ay magbayad din ng agency fee, sa ayaw natin at sa gusto:

Ano ba nakakamit o benepisyo ng mga hindi miyembro ng ACT NCR Union kung bakit kailangang magbayad ng agency fee? 

Sagot: Dahil sa mahigpit na pagtangan sa prinsipyo na para sa guro ang iluluwal ng pakikidayalogo, makikita sa CNA na aprubado ng Deped NCR ay ang mga sumusunod:

a. Pagrecognize na dapat ang guro ay may disenteng sahod, security of tenure, career development at makataong lugar sa pagtuturo

b. Official time sa mga meetings ng Unyon

c. Pagkakaroon ng pasilidad at opisina ang union/faculty club

d. Libreng paggamit ng Deped halls and facilities

e. Libreng paggamit ng sasakyan ng Deped 

f. Pagkakaroon ng bulletin boards at water dispenser and supply 

g. Pagtitiyak na ang mga guro ay regular at timely promotion 

h. Pagtitiyak na ang class size at load ng mga guro ay makatao 

i. Pagkakaroon ng malinis at ligtas ng lugar ng tuturuan

j. Libreng dental examination at treatment 

k. Istriktong implementasyon ng mga leave priviledges

l. Pagkakaroon ng sports program at libreng sports facility/equipment

m. Pagkakaroon ng tribute at parangal sa mga retiring teachers

n. Pagtitiyak na magkaroon ng CNA incentive. 

(Mula sa FB Note na TANONG AT SAGOT HINGGIL SA AGENCY FEE NG ACT NCR UNION na inilabas noong  October 26, 2016, kung kalian tapos nang makaltas sa ating sahod ng P20.00 na agency fee)

Sabihin na nating ang mga ito ang tinutukoy nilang incentives o benefits, hindi pa rin uubra ang sapilitang kaltasan dahil ipinagbabawal ito ng Section 21 ng Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, ispesyal na batas na nilikha upang proteksiyunan ang karapatan nating mga guro. Ayon dito, 

“Sec. 21. Deductions Prohibited. No person shall make any deduction whatsoever from the salaries of teachers except under specific authority of law authorizing such deductions: Provided, however, That upon written authority executed by the teacher concerned, (1) lawful dues and fees owing to the Philippine Public School Teachers Association, and (2) premiums properly due on insurance policies, shall be considered deductible.”

Mas mataas ang Magna Carta dahil ito ay isang ispesyal na batas na nilikha mismo ng Kongreso, samantala, ang E0 180 ay isa lamang kautusang ng pangulo. 

Sa huli, nais nating ipaunawa sa ating mga kapatid na guro na ang organisasyon ay hindi nakikipaglaban para sa kapakanan at kabutihan ng mga guro upang ibaon tayo sa utang na loob sa bandang huli. Lalo na ang singilin tayo ng kabayaran dahil sa mga pakikipaglaban at tagumpay, kung mayroon man. Ang pagsuporta at pagtitiwala ng mga guro na umaabot hanggang sa pagtustos niya sa laban ng kanyang organisasyon o sektor ay kamulatang makakamit niyang likas batay sa pagkilala niya sa pangangailangan nito.

Ang pangyayaring ito sa NCR ay isang senyal na may pagkukulang ang mga organisasyon, kabilang na ang TDC sa pagpapaunawa sa kahalagahan at iba pang teknikalidad ng pag-uunyon. Pero maling-mali na sisihin ang masang guro na nagrereklamo hinggil dito, lalo ang tawagin silang bobo, makikitid, makasarili, hindi makaunawa at iba pa. Naniniwala kami na ang halagang P20.00 o higit pa ay malaya, kusang-loob at maligayang iaambag ng bawat guro sa kanyang organisasyon at sa kanyang laban kung lubos ang pagkakaunawa niya rito.

Hindi rin makatarungang isisi sa umanoý iilang organisasyon ang mga reklamo ng guro at pagbintangan silang ‘binabaluktot ang mga pangyayari dahil hindi sila ang nakaupo na sole and exclusive negotiating agent’ gaya nang ipinahihiwatig ng pahayag ng ACT-NCR. Ispontanyong nagpahayag ng pagkadismaya ang mga guro. Ibig sabihin, ito ay isang lehitimong usapin at lahat tayo, kasama na ang DepEd ay may obligasyong ito ay tugunan. 

Kaya ngayong araw na ito ay nakipagpulong na ang ilang pinuno ng TDC-NCR at ilang punungguro sa pamunuan ng DepEd-NCR. Nagpadala na rin ang ilang guro ng pormal na sulat upang ipahinto ang pagkaltas at ibalik ang nauna nang kinaltas. At kung sakali mang manindigan ang DepEd-NCR at maging ACT-NCR sa kawastuhan ng sinasabi nilang pagkaltas at sa bandang huli ay katigan sila ng batas, maluwag natin itong tatanggapin. Ang ayaw lamang naman natin ay ang ginugulat tayo at sinisingil nang hindi naaayon sa proseso at laban sa ating kalooban.

Hinahamon namin ang lahat ng sangkot sa pangyayaring ito na tugunan ang usapin sa isang maayos na pamamaraan at mga pahayag. Umamin tayo sa ating mga pagkukulang. 

-Teachers’ Dignity Coalition-National Capital Region (TDC-NCR)

November 2, 2016

CALOOCAN NATURE PARK

Marked the history of Caloocan City to own its nature loving park, Caloocan Nature Park, that magnets families, friends, colleagues, and individuals who are looking for relaxation with pools, cottages, meeting areas, refreshing ambiance, old trees, and other recreational activities that soon to be offered.

Situated along the corner of Alibangbang and Mulawin Streets in Amparo, Caloocan City, the park is near to SM Fairview, Robinsons, and Fairview Terraces. From malls, commuters may take a jeepney ride going to Amparo or Tala, Malaria, Tungku, Sapang Palay routes then from the facade of Amparo Subdivision, may ride a trike going to the park. One to two rides from Fairview malls.

The park was then an abandoned park which has spring that nearby people were getting their water for their daily chores. With no clear idea from what it was and the reason of abandonment, its reigning time became the topic of many individuals when the local government led by the City Mayor Oscar Malapitan with Councils to make it great and functional to public. 

The park opens from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm from Monday to Sunday. Its pools are open to public during Saturday and Sunday; Monday and Friday open for picnic only while Tuesday and Thursday will be by appointment in the City Administrator’s office, Caloocan City hall North.

Sec. Leonor Briones on her 100th day as Educ Chief

Briones presents DepEd’s accomplishments, agenda beyond the first 100 days

PASIG CITY, October 21, 2016 – Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones marked her 100th day as Education chief by iterating the Department’s 10-point agenda before more than 190 education stakeholders and partners on Oct. 14, and to the DepEd Central Office employees and some regional and division heads on Oct. 17. 

Laying out the priorities

Addressing the Central Office personnel during a general assembly on Monday, Briones presented an update on her administration’s first 100 days. She also laid out a 10-point agenda, emphasizing how this is based on her team’s vision and the priorities of the Duterte administration.

However, Briones was quick to assure continuity of the key programs of the previous administration.

“Hindi dahil bago ang Secretary o dahil bago ang administrasyon, ay bago na ang lahat. Kailangan may continuity. Kung anuman ang ginagawa natin ngayon, it builds on the past and present programs,” Briones said.

The Secretary also acknowledged the basic challenges of the Department, such as raising the quality of education, making education accesible and relevant to the urgent needs and opportunities of the country, and making education truly liberating.

What the Department has done so far

1. Confronted the inherited problem of budget underutilization and spending backlogs

As the country’s biggest bureaucracy with the biggest budget allocation, Secretary Briones explained the need for an efficient organization to help in the delivery of basic education.

DepEd promptly convened a mid-year review of Project Procurement Management Plans (PPMPs) to catch-up on procurement especially of big-ticket items, explored inter-agency mechanisms in obligating allocations for hard-to-move items in the 2015 budget, and constituted an Education Program Delivery Unit to ensure effective, efficient and timely execution of programs, projects, and activities.

2. Responded to the President’s education directives

In response to the marching order of the President, DepEd is strengthening the preventive drug education component in Science and Health by providing real-life lessons and alternative learning methods to make the delivery much more realistic and effective, starting Grade 4. Gender and development component of school curricula, especially in relation to sex education and teenage pregnancy, and environmental awareness and disaster preparedness, are being reinforced.

Aside from enhancing drug education, expanding the reach of ALS is another DepEd program that has President Duterte’s expressed support.

DepEd is working double-time to revive and expand the coverage of ALS. Alternative learning methods are also being developed for learners in hard-to-reach mountain regions and small islands, as well as densely populated areas.

3. Committed to the full implementation of the K to 12

Secretary Briones reiterated that the continuation of the K to 12 program is not to please the international market nor to cater to the private sector, but to serve the interest of the Filipinos and the country.

The anticipated large number of drop-outs and massive displacement of teachers did not occur. There are more than 1.5 million Grade 11 enrollees and more than 36,000 teacher items were created for Senior High School (SHS).

4. Defended the President’s budget in Congress

The launch of SHS demands even more resources. To support the curriculum needs, provision of additional basic resources is underway: P15.5 billion will be allotted to hiring 53,831 teachers, P3 billion for 55.8 million learning materials, P4.5 billion 8,833 science and math equipment packages, and P7.3 billion for 7,260 TechVoc tools and equipment packages.

On October 19, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA) that will provide P3.35 trillion national budget to finance government operations in 2017. P567.5 billion is allotted to DepEd, the biggest budget allocation among all government agencies.

Reforms for the long term

1. DepEd identified procurement and management system as major roadblocks. To address these, DepEd introduced greater leadership supervision over Finance and Administration: two Undersecretaries for Finance were appointed–one in charge of the expenditure to make sure money flows and is accounted for, and another to manage budget utilization.

2. DepEd has also met with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary to reconstitute the Joint Technical Working Group on the Basic Education Facilities and target prompt execution of school buildings construction under the 2017 budget.

3. DepEd is also establishing an Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) to track the status of the Department's budget releases and disbursements in real time.

Changes in the current planning templates will be introduced to address inflexibility in costing standards and delays in field validation of planned projects.

“No organization can succeed without an appropriate financial management system which will be used to fund our dreams, promises, and programs,” she added.

4. In a move to support the campaign against the proliferation of illegal drug use, DepEd convened with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to form a Working Group that will forge a common legal position on drug testing for students and personnel among DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and Technicial Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and implement the comprehensive drug testing initiative in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH).

5. One education intervention to help keep schoolchildren in school until completion of basic education is the continuation of school-based feeding programs. The proposal to have the massive feeding program will be reviewed amid budget implications. 

6. Briones stressed that to be part of DepEd, excellent education credentials are but the minimum qualification. Employees should strive to be more capacitated and informed on the state of education and the needs of the country. Therefore, the agency will introduce curricular and non-curricular programs, and undertake institutional capacity building to be responsive to the aspirations and urgent needs of the nation.

Improvement of the capacity of teachers, education leaders, and DepEd personnel includes the strengthening of DepEd Regional Offices’ capacity in managing and hosting training programs, and the training on curriculum for teachers and ALS facilitators.

7. Secretary Briones emphasized the importance of integrating, reflecting, and expressing the Philippines’ rich historical experiences in the educational system. She acknowledged the challenges to move away from data and technology to innovation, creativity, critical thinking, and acceptance of and adjustment to changes.

During the 6th APEC Education Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) in Peru, Briones said that while Science and Technology is also being offered to students as early as Grade 3 and 4, DepEd is loyal not only to the culture and arts but also to Philippine history and the directions of the development program.

8. DepEd is eyeing the expansion of the scope of academic and non-academic employee welfare through the improvement of the provident fund.

9. Department leadership will be active, transparent, consultative, collaborative, and corruption-free. A regular general assembly with the employees will be held to update on the development in the agency. There will be briefings by each Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries with directors on current programs.

10. Amid concerns and debates, Secretary Briones maintained that the Department will continue partnerships with the private sector.

http://www.deped.gov.ph/press-releases/briones-presents-deped%E2%80%99s-accomplishments-agenda-beyond-first-100-days

TDC ASKED DEPED TO RELEASE PBB

NEWS RELEASE

October 18, 2016

WHERE IS OUR PBB? TEACHERS ASK DEPED

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to release the performance based bonus (PBB) that should have been given this month based on the DepEd timeline.

This PBB has always been an object of criticism in the system because of the usual delays in its release since it started in fiscal year 2012.” said Benjo Basas, TDC national chairperson.

Basas however said that while October has not yet ended, the DepEd should assure that the bonus will be released within the month so the teachers and personnel could use the money for their needs, especially that many provinces were affected by the series of typhoons.

The PBB is part of the productivity based-incentive system (PBIS) under the Salary Standardization Law-3 enacted in 2009 but only implemented since 2012 under the Executive Order 80 signed by then President Benigno  Aquino III.

The other bonus is the productivity enhancement incentive or PEI amounting to P5,000 and given to all the employees and officials of the government.

But Basas said his group wanted the government to scrap the policy and grant an across the board incentive which is fair and justifiable instead.

“This PBB scheme is unfair and deceptive and would further divide the government employees,” he said.

The monetary benefits to government employees range from 0 to P35,000 based on their ‘performance’ but teachers claim that DepEd has no clear-cut standard resulting in “incentive disparity and demoralization among the teachers since it was first implemented in school year 2012-2013,” according to Basas.

“Another problem is the delay in the release of this incentive. The PBB is supposedly given by the end of the year, our 2012 incentive however was only released in August 2013, the same fate happen for PBB of teachers for the succeeding years until last school year. Now, teachers are still waiting for the bonus based on their performance in year 2015-206.” Basas added. 

Recently, however, the DepEd made changes on the performance rating system and added office performance as one of the indicators for rating the schools. Other indicators are the drop-out rate, language assessment for primary grades (LAPG)/ national achievement test (NAT) scores and the disbursement of school’s funds to measure the school performance which is also the basis of the individual amount to be received by teachers.

“All of those criteria have nothing to do with the performance of individual teachers, thus putting the majority of us to disadvantage,” Basas lamented.