President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed an executive order (EO) that promotes professional development and career advancement among public school teachers by creating new position titles with corresponding salary grades.

EO 174, which establishes the expanded career progression system for public school teachers, was signed by Duterte on Wednesday and was released to reporters on Thursday.

“The expanded career progression system for public school teachers is hereby established to promote professional development and career advancements among public school teachers, and define the career lines of teachers within the public school system,” the EO reads.

The system must complement other career pathways for professional teachers outside the public base education school system, as may be defined by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and provide for equivalence in duties, recognition, and compensation for teachers choosing a career line.

In signing the EO, Duterte recognized how the evolving character of the 21st century leaders, the implementation of the K-12 Reform, and the enactment of Republic Act 10968, which institutionalized the Philippine Qualifications Framework have brought significant developments in the national education landscape.

“There is a need to revise and update the system of career progression for public school teachers that is anchored on the achievement of qualifications and standards for teachers and school administrators, in order to provide more opportunities for professional growth and career advancement, and ensure that teachers are consistently motivated in providing quality education to learners,” the EO read.

Under the Order, the Department of Budget and Management shall crate additional position titles namely Teacher 4, 5, 6, 7, and Master Teacher 5.

The positions of Teacher 1 to 7 will form the base of the career system.

Upon achieving the qualifications and proficiency level required for Master Teacher 1, a teacher may choose to pursue the Classroom Teaching Career Line or the School Administration Career Line.

The Civil Service Commission, Department of Education, and Professional Regulation Commission must harmonize the qualification standards for teaching positions in the public school system, specifically in the elementary and secondary levels, including Senior High School.

A teacher pursuing a promotion to Master Teacher 2 must continue upwards in the Classroom Teaching Career Line while a teacher opting a career as School Principal 1 must continue upwards in the School Administration Career Line.

The switching from one career line to another must be allowed, provided that the individual possess all the necessary qualifications and expected competencies for the other career line.

Both the Master Teachers and School Principals may be considered for promotion to the next higher positions in the service.

The EO lists the classroom teaching career line as follows: Master Teacher 1, Master Teacher 2, Master Teacher 3, Master Teacher 4, and Master Teacher 5.

Likewise, it lists the school administration career line as follows: School Principal 1, School Principal 2, School Principal 3, School Principal 4. (PNA)