Following the 5th State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Education (DepEd) has reassured the public that it is fully aligned with the administration’s executive directives. The agency is prioritizing four critical areas: teacher welfare, school infrastructure, learner protection, and the employability of Senior High School graduates.
As Marcos outlined his key priorities for DepEd during his SONA, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara assured the public that the agency is working systematically and decisively to translate the Chief Executive’s policy vision into tangible improvements across basic education institutions nationwide.
‘Seryoso nating tinutupad ang marching orders ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos para sa sektor ng edukasyon….Bawat bilin ng Pangulo sa kanyang SONA-mula sa pangangalaga sa mga guro hanggang sa pagpapalakas ng kahandaan sa trabaho ng ating Senior High School graduates-ay direktang tinutugunan ng DepEd sa pamamagitan ng mga konkretong reporma at programa,’ he said.
In response to executive mandates prioritizing teacher welfare and administrative unburdening, DepEd confirmed that around 82,000 teachers and school heads have been promoted under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System since 2025.
To further expand promotions, DepEd is working closely with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to secure a proposed P12 billion allocation for the continuous implementation of ECP for Fiscal Year 2027-doubling the allocation provided in the previous two fiscal years.
Simultaneously, the department is filling 32,916 new teaching positions and 32,268 various non-teaching positions for FY 2026 to strengthen school staffing and enable teachers to focus more on instruction.
The new non-teaching positions include 10,000 School Counselor Associate I positions to provide psychosocial support and learner well-being services, 11,268 Administrative Officer II positions to assume administrative functions previously performed by teachers, 5,000 Project Development Officer I positions to support the implementation of school programs and initiatives, and 6,000 School Principal I positions to strengthen instructional leadership and school management. These are part of the initiatives of the ongoing development of School Organizational Structure and Staffing Standards (SOSSS) which shall rationalize school operations.
Complementing these staffing initiatives is the digitization of 10 School Forms, undertaken in partnership with UNICEF, to streamline documentation, reporting, and school data management. Together, these interventions help reduce teachers’ administrative workload, enabling them to devote more time to teaching and learning.
These efforts are further supported by initiatives that promote the welfare and well-being of education personnel, including the expanded P10,000 Teaching Allowance, the P7,000 Medical Allowance, the provision of laptops and lapel microphones, and the grant of a five-day Wellness Leave for all personnel.
Addressing classroom backlogs, as directed by the Chief Executive, DepEd has completed 21,441 classrooms through the Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF)-including 411 classrooms in Last Mile Schools-while coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units (LGUs) for over 12,000 additional units. Furthermore, private sector partners are constructing an initial batch of over 16,000 classrooms in Luzon via Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), with upcoming expansions set for the Visayas and Mindanao.
In response to the President’s directive to strengthen the Senior High School curriculum and expand employment pathways, DepEd welcomed the Chief Executive’s sustained support for workforce readiness.
Apart from key milestones cited in the SONA-including over 1,500 SHS graduates hired on the spot during Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fairs and new qualification standards opening first-level government positions to SHS graduates-DepEd is implementing the nationwide rollout of the Strengthened Senior High School (SSHS) Program for SY 2026-2027.
By streamlining the curriculum and strengthening both Academic and Technical-Professional (TechPro) pathways, DepEd is enhancing work immersion, industry exposure, and career guidance and is aligning the SHS program with the goals of the National Education and Workforce Development Plan.
Working in close coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), industry partners, and other stakeholders, the department is ensuring that SHS graduates are equipped with industry-aligned skills to confidently pursue higher education, employment, middle-level skills development, or entrepreneurship.
DepEd also reiterated its commitment to the President’s call for stronger child protection, implementing DepEd Order No. 6, s. 2026 or the Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment (ESMLE Policy) alongside its Child Protection, Anti-Bullying, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, and Digital Citizenship policies.
Partnering with LGUs, barangays, the Philippine National Police (PNP), parents, and other stakeholders, DepEd is creating safe learning spaces against physical harm and online hazards like fake news and social media violence. This is reinforced by the presence of School Counselor Associates in schools for mental health support and expanded feeding programs serving 4.6 million learners, including all Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners as well as undernourished Grade 2 to Grade 6 learners.
On digital literacy, DepEd highlighted its lead in national AI readiness following the SONA updates. Through the AI Ready ASEAN Philippines program with the ASEAN Foundation and Google. org, DepEd has trained over 1.8 million Filipinos-including 1.3 million learners, 420,000 teachers, and 130,000 parents-making the Philippines as the country with the second highest number of beneficiaries across the region. Program materials from this initiative now serve as core references for DepEd’s official AI teacher training modules.
‘Tinitiyak natin na ang bawat direktiba ng ating Pangulo ay hindi nagtatapos sa pananalita lamang kundi nagiging totoong benepisyo para sa mga mag-aaral, guro, at magulang… Patuloy nating pinalalakas ang pundasyon ng ating sistema ng edukasyon upang masiguro na walang pamilyang Pilipino ang maiiwan sa ating pag-unlad,’ Angara said.