The current teacher shortage nationwide is approximately 65,000, far from the Department of Education鈥檚 (DepEd) record of around 30,000, a nonprofit organization claimed on Friday.听
鈥淲e think that we need more than 100,000 teachers in 2024,鈥 Teachers Dignity Coalition National Chairman Benjo Basas told 大象传媒 in an interview. 鈥淚f we decrease the 36,000 (teaching positions), the current shortage would be around 65,000.鈥听
In 2024, the Department of Education (DepEd) reported a shortage of approximately 60,000 teachers. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in May of the same year approved the creation of 22,000 new teaching positions.
By May 2025, the DBM authorized the establishment of 16,000 additional posts, part of a broader plan to introduce 20,000 new teaching positions for the year.
鈥淲e think it’s conservative,鈥 said Mr. Basas. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not aligned with what鈥檚 happening on the ground.鈥澨听
He also noted that although the government hires new teachers every year, it must also take into account the number of educators leaving the profession.听听
鈥淧eople also retire every year, some resign for greener pastures, and some take early retirement because they can no longer handle the pressure or for other valid reasons.鈥听
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Demand for teachers听
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥 M. Angara said the classroom shortage of over 165,000, especially in urban areas such as Region IV-A and the National Capital Region (NCR), is caused by the growing population.听听
Due to the increasing number of young population or school-age children and the unequal distribution of students in urban and rural areas, the demand for teachers increases as well, according to Mr. Basas.听
鈥(Schools in) rural areas are not crowded, it’s not congested, unlike in urban areas, where the student population is bigger,” he said. 鈥淜inder to Grade 3 has the highest attendance which means, more teachers are needed, especially in key stage 1 (KS1).”听听
鈥淚鈥檓 assuming that the DepEd based the numbers on a 1:40 teacher-to-student ratio, which should not be the case if you look at it per grade level,” he added.听
KS1 learners typically range from five to eight years old. Data from the local statistics agency showed that out of 42 million, around 11 million people aged five to nine had attended school in 2020.听听
Classes for the upcoming school year will commence on June 16 and end on March 31, 2026. – Almira Louise S. Martinez
