DepEd highlights reforms for teacher support, student achievements in SY 2025-2026

The Department of Education marked the closing of School Year 2025–2026 by highlighting ongoing efforts to support teachers and improve learning outcomes while recognizing student achievements across the country.

In a statement, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said teachers remain central to reforms aimed at strengthening the education system, as the agency rolled out policy updates and expanded support programs recently.

“Sa ating minamahal na mga guro sa bawat sulok ng bansa, nais ko kayong batiin at pasalamatan para sa inyong tiyaga, malasakit, at tahimik na kabayanihan sa loob ng ating mga silid-aralan,” he said.

(To our beloved teachers in every corner of the country, I want to greet and thank you for your dedication, compassion, and quiet heroism inside our classrooms.)

DepEd said consultations and school visits conducted nationwide helped inform adjustments in policies, including changes to classroom observation guidelines, overtime and overload pay, and measures to ease teachers’ administrative workload.

The agency also cited ongoing initiatives such as the distribution of laptops and learning resources, as well as the implementation of the Expanded Career Progression System, which aims to provide clearer promotion pathways. DepEd is targeting the promotion of up to 100,000 teachers and school heads before the end of the year.

As the school year ended, teachers started their month-long break on April 1.

Alongside teacher-focused efforts, DepEd also pointed to student achievements as indicators of improving education quality. 

Among those cited was John Michael “MJ” Camilosa Limbaga of Agusan National High School in Butuan City, who gained attention after receiving more than 40 awards in a single recognition ceremony, including citations from national and international academic competitions.

The department added that similar stories have emerged from learners in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), Special Needs Education (SNED), and Madrasah programs, many of whom overcame challenges to complete their studies and pursue further education or employment.

It added that these developments reflect its broader goal of improving teaching quality, expanding support systems, and creating more opportunities for Filipino learners. — VBL, GMA News