Teacher gap dropped by 2-thirds as DepEd filled 60,000 vacancies — Angara

The Department of Education (DepEd) has made major progress in addressing the long-standing teacher shortage, announcing it has filled 60,000 teaching vacancies this year—effectively reducing the gap by two-thirds.

“Malaking bagay ‘yung 60,000 items na na-approve this year. Dati halos 200,000 ang kulang, ngayon mga 60,000 na lang,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview.

(The 60,000 items approved this year made a huge difference. We used to lack nearly 200,000, now it's down to around 60,000.)

Angara credited the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for swiftly approving the teaching positions, allowing DepEd to deploy thousands of new teachers ahead of the June 16 school opening.

“Very supportive ang DBM. ‘Pag nag-request kami ng teacher items, inaprubahan agad,” he said.

(DBM has been very supportive. When we requested teacher items, they approved it right away.)

The current estimate of 60,000 remaining vacancies is a marked improvement from the situation just a few years ago, when classrooms were often manned by overburdened educators handling multiple grade levels.

DepEd is now working on hiring teachers for these remaining posts, with many of them expected to be deployed to high-need areas such as relocation sites and newly established schools.

Despite this progress, challenges remain. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has repeatedly called for better pay, job security, and benefits for educators, especially those in far-flung areas. Angara acknowledged these concerns and said they are part of ongoing discussions.

“Alam natin na hindi lang numero ang usapan. Kailangan din tugunan ‘yung kalidad ng pagtuturo at kapakanan ng guro,” he said.

(We know it's not just about numbers. We also need to address teaching quality and the welfare of our teachers.)

The move to reduce the teacher shortage is part of DepEd’s broader goal of improving the quality of basic education by ensuring that students have access to qualified and dedicated teachers in every classroom.

As the school year begins, DepEd assures the public that it is working closely with LGUs and education partners to ensure a smoother back-to-school transition for both learners and teachers. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News