Nearly half of the country’s teachers are handling subjects outside their field of specialization, a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) revealed.
According to the ‘Taught Off-Guard: When Specialization and Teaching Assignments Do Not Match,’ 43 percent of teachers are assigned to subjects for which they lack formal training or credentials.
Meanwhile, 32 percent are partially matched (handling both specialized and non-specialized subjects) while only 25 percent are teaching in full alignment with their academic background.
Mismatch refers to the practice of assigning teachers to disciplines for which they lack specialized credentials.
It is a global phenomenon that negatively affects teachers’ work, students’ learning and teachers’ well-being, confidence and self-efficacy, the study added.
To correct this, the study noted that recruitment policies must prioritize and enforce teacher-subject matching, supported by systemic reforms starting from pre-service teacher education.
It also stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between teacher education institutions, the DepEd and other agencies to ensure more responsive planning and sustainable teacher development.
‘Professional development programs should be expanded, optimized and made widely accessible to sustain teacher competence and close specialization gaps,’ the PIDS said.
Echoing the study’s findings, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) also reported that teacher-subject mismatch remains widespread, with 62 percent of public high school teachers assigned to teach outside their area of expertise.
The commission pointed to longstanding issues in DepEd’s hiring policies, which often prioritize teacher availability over subject-matter proficiency.
To address the issue, the study urged the Commission on Higher Education to enhance its quality assurance frameworks, conduct regular audits of teacher qualifications and invest in infrastructure aligned with curriculum demands – particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and technical-vocational fields.
Bonus release
In a separate development, the DepEd and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) jointly announced the approval and upcoming release of the 2023 Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for qualified teaching and non-teaching personnel.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Harmonization of National Government Performance Monitoring, Information and Reporting Systems (AO25 Task Force) endorsed DepEd’s eligibility.
According to the DBM, the department earned an 80-point score in the eligibility criteria, which made it qualified for the highest PBB rate of 52 percent of the monthly basic salary.
This rate reportedly marked a significant improvement from 45.5 percent in 2021 and 48.75 percent in 2022.
With the approval, a Teacher I, with a basic salary of P27,000, is now expected to receive around P14,040 for fiscal year 2023.
‘The approval of the 2023 PBB for DepEd workforce reflects our shared commitment to recognize the hard work and vital contributions of our educators to national development. With the strong support of President Marcos, we are ensuring that performance and dedication are rewarded accordingly,’ Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
DepEd will coordinate with DBM for the issuance of special allotment release orders and notices of cash allocation to ensure prompt disbursement of the bonuses.
Regional and division offices will be notified once funds are ready for release.
‘Our teachers and education personnel are the backbone of our nation’s future. This bonus is a testament to their unwavering dedication. We thank our partners in government for their continued support in uplifting the teaching profession,’ Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.