President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. renewed his commitment to giving public school teachers clearer opportunities for career advancement, saying no teacher should reach retirement while still holding the entry-level Teacher I position.
Marcos made the commitment in Santiago City, Isabela, where he led the mass oath-taking of 4,125 newly promoted and newly hired education personnel from the Department of Education Region II during the observance of National Teachers’ Month.
“Kaya nangako ako sa ating mga guro: hindi na tayo papayag na mayroong guro na magre-retire bilang Teacher I,” Marcos said.
The President said the government is expanding career opportunities for educators through the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System, which provides pathways for professional advancement.
He said teachers who spend much of their working lives in the profession should have opportunities to advance in their careers.
“Dahil sa aming pananaw, hindi naman tama na ibinibigay ninyo ang napakalaking bahagi ng inyong buhay sa pagtuturo, tapos hindi kayo uunlad sa inyong propesyon,” he said.
More than 82,000 teachers and school heads nationwide had been promoted under the system as of September, according to the government.
The ECP System provides career advancement opportunities for public school teachers without requiring them to leave classroom teaching for administrative positions. The government has also allocated additional funding to sustain its implementation.
Marcos also assured teachers that the government would continue measures aimed at improving their working conditions, including reducing administrative tasks and improving benefits.
“Patuloy po rin ang suporta namin sa inyo. Binawasan natin ang administrative work at pinabuti ang benepisyo ng ating mga guro,” he said.
The President also credited teachers for helping improve the country’s performance in Reading, Science and Mathematics in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) compared with the 2022 results. The government has recently highlighted the improvement in the three areas while continuing to push reforms in education.
Beyond teachers’ career development, Marcos emphasized the need to make schools safer for students.
He said the government would work with parents, communities and other partners to protect children from bullying, abuse and risks associated with online activities.
“Hindi lamang kayo nagtuturo ng aralin, kayo ang gumagabay, nag-aalaga, at tumutulong humubog sa kinabukasan ng kabataang Pilipino,” Marcos said.
After the oath-taking ceremony, Marcos visited Patul Elementary School, where he launched the Kaagapay Program in Region II. The program aims to help parents identify threats to children’s safety.
The President’s renewed commitment to teacher career advancement follows the government’s broader implementation of the ECP System, which has established clearer pathways for educators to progress in the profession.
Photo courtesy of Connected Women
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