DepEd seeks to hire 32K new teachers in 2026

The Department of Education (DepEd) is seeking to hire more than 30,000 new public school teachers in 2026 to ease class congestion and support instructional recovery amid high learner densities in many public schools.

The Education Department said the 32,916 proposed Teacher I positions are included in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

It added the proposal aligns with the national government’s directive to strengthen basic education and improve classroom conditions.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the recruitment plan is intended to help address shortages that affect learning delivery.

“Kapag nagdagdag tayo ng libo-libong guro, mas lumuluwag ang mga silid-aralan at mas nabibigyang-pansin ang mga batang kailangang abutan. Papalakasin ang pwersa ng mga guro para mas umangat ang kalidad ng pagtuturo sa bawat paaralan,” Angara said.

(When we add thousands of teachers, classrooms become less congested and learners who need assistance receive more attention. Strengthening the teaching workforce will help improve the quality of instruction in every school.)

The 2026 staffing proposal also includes 6,000 School Principal I positions and 10,000 School Counselor Associate items. DepEd said these positions aim to address leadership gaps and strengthen school-based guidance and mental health services, particularly in responding to bullying and learner well-being concerns.

DepEd is also completing the hiring of previously funded items. For 2025, the department expects to deploy 20,000 new teaching positions, along with filling 33,052 unfilled items from earlier years.

To reduce the administrative workload currently handled by teachers, the 2026 proposal contains 11,268 Administrative Officer II (AO II) positions to achieve a 1:1 AO II-to-school ratio, and 5,000 Project Development Officer I (PDO I) posts to support school-level program implementation.

DepEd said these additions form part of broader workforce reforms intended to improve school operations and help teachers focus on classroom instruction.

Under Angara, the agency has issued several updates to teacher-related policies, including an Inclusive Employment Policy, revised rules on overtime and overload pay, and workload rationalization intended to shift non-teaching tasks away from educators.

Angara described the proposed 2026 budget as significant for the sector.

“Matagal nang hinihintay ng sektor ang ganitong laki ng pondo. Historic ang 2026 budget dahil unang pagkakataon na sabay-sabay nating natutugunan ang pangangailangan sa guro, suporta sa paaralan, at paghahanda sa bagong kurikulum,” Angara said.

(The sector has long waited for a budget of this scale. The 2026 budget is historic because it is the first time we can simultaneously address teacher needs, school support, and preparations for the new curriculum.)

The final allocation for the proposed positions will depend on the approval of the 2026 General Appropriations Act which is currently undergoing congressional deliberation.—AOL, GMA Integrated News