MANILA — Public school teachers are not exempted from the eight-hour workday, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday.
Citing a Civil Service resolution, the department said in a statement that teachers are required to render six hours of actual classroom teaching daily within the school premises and use the remaining two hours by doing teaching-related tasks outside the school.
The agency said it would release a memorandum that reiterates the provisions stated in DepEd Memorandum (DM) Number 291 series of 2008 and DepEd Order (DO) Number 16, s. 2009 and ensure their strict implementation.
Both the DM and DO specify that teachers who choose to render the remaining two hours of work outside school must not be subjected to salary deductions.
It is also stated that teachers should not be required to submit means of verification as proof of services completed during the remaining two hours of work rendered outside the school.
Last month, the Teachers Dignity Coalition requested DepEd to reduce the excessive workload of teachers which includes tasks not related to teaching.
The request came after the death of three teachers, who allegedly underwent excessive emotional stress due to long working hours.
The group also urged DepEd to implement a six-hour workday and provide a higher salary and comprehensive health program, including mental wellness. (Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA)
