Fernan Carigma

To ease the teaching workload and enhance learning delivery nationwide, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced the hiring of 20,000 new teachers for School Year 2025-2026, calling it a “considerable” boost to strengthen the public education system.

Photo Courtesy of Facebook/Bongbong Marcos.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved all the 20,000 teaching positions requested by DepEd for School Year 2025-2026, Education Secretary Sonny Angara confirmed on June 26.

These positions include Teacher I, Special Needs Education Teacher (SNET), and Special Science Teacher I items, to be distributed across all regions.

“Sa 20,000 bagong teaching items, may 20,000 bagong pagkakataon para maabot ang mas maraming learners, maibsan ang bigat ng trabaho ng mga existing teachers, at mapaganda ang learning delivery sa field,” Angara said in a news release.

The approval follows the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to bolster teacher deployment as part of broader efforts to improve the country's education system.

The following regions will receive the highest number of new positions: Region IV-A (CALABARZON) with 2,655 items, followed by Region III (Central Luzon) with 2,152, and Region VII (Central Visayas) with 1,774.

The distribution was based on updated school directories, enrollment figures, and validated teacher shortages.

DBM has started issuing Notices of Organization, Staffing, and Classification Action (NOSCAs) directly to Schools Division Offices (SDOs) for Kindergarten to Senior High School positions, and to Implementing Units (IUs) for Junior High School, to facilitate rapid hiring.

The appointments will be made swiftly based on the existing Comparative Assessment Result – Registry of Qualified Applicants (CAR-RQA) for the current academic year, with NOSCAs in place.

The Department of Education has reduced unfilled teacher positions from 72,964 in August 2024 to 38,862 by April 2025, raising the national filling rate to 96.03 percent from 94.78 percent in 2022.

“Bawat bakanteng posisyon ay sayang na oportunidad para sa mga bata. Kaya ginagawa namin ang lahat para ma-close ang gap na ’to. Hindi lang sa mabilis na hiring, kundi sa mas maayos at matalinong pag-deploy,” Angara emphasized.

DepEd expects the influx of new teachers to help improve student learning outcomes, particularly in underserved and newly established schools, while also creating a more equitable and efficient education system.

“Hindi lang ito tungkol sa dami. Ang mahalaga, mas marami ang buong pusong magseserbisyo para sa batang Pilipino,” Angara added.

As preparations for the School Year 2025–2026 continue, the department is confident that the new hires will not only address workforce gaps but also contribute to a better learning environment for millions of Filipino learners.