Jamayka Rhose Pascual

The Department of Education (DepEd) has taken a step to address the leadership crisis in public schools by committing to deploy over 15,000 qualified teachers as principals this year.

Photo Courtesy of Philippine News Agency.

This initiative is a response to the long-term shortage of school heads hindering the effective management of educational institutions and the delivery of quality education.

According to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), 55% of public schools in the Philippines operate without a principal, leaving many institutions without proper administrative oversight.

The shortage stems from several challenges, including the low passing rates for the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH), frequent personnel turnover, and a hard qualification process that discourages aspiring candidates.

To address these issues, DepEd will begin by appointing the 7,916 teachers who have successfully passed the NQESH in 2024 to fill current vacancies.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted that filing for these important positions will improve the educational state of the country.

“This pressing issue is an eye-opener. So many of our schools operate without brains—because that’s what our principals are, the brains of our schools. Rest assured, DepEd is taking swift action to address this problem,” he emphasized.

In facilitating the deployment process, DepEd will release the interim guidelines ensuring that principals detailed to office-based roles return to their designated schools, where their leadership is most needed.

The department will also distribute the remaining principal positions to schools that lack proper administrative guidance, ensuring a more equitable distribution of leadership resources.

In line with these efforts, the DepEd will also implement the Expanded Career Progression Policy, which aims to elevate 14,761 Head Teachers (I - V) to the rank of School Principal I, restructuring the transition to formal leadership roles.

954 Head Teachers VI and Assistant School Principal II positions will then be reclassified as School Principal I, opening further avenues for career advancement within the education sector.

Under the aforementioned policy, acting school heads will be prioritized as “on-stream candidates,” allowing them to transition more seamlessly into permanent principal roles.

The DepEd also plans to refine the NQESH to shift the focus to competency-based assessments that will evaluate candidates’ readiness for leadership roles better.

The examination will be decentralized to regional levels, making it more accessible and reducing barriers for aspiring school leaders.

Looking ahead to 2026, DepEd intends to adopt the School Organizational Structure and Staffing Standards, which will institutionalize a one principal-to-one school policy across the country.