Camille Naredo

Children accompanied by their parents interact with school principal Larry Rosete after a school recognition day activity at the Sta Ana Elementary School in Manila on July 5, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Children accompanied by their parents interact with school principal Larry Rosete after a school recognition day activity at the Sta Ana Elementary School in Manila on July 5, 2023. Classes in public schools formally ends on July 7 based on the education department’s official calendar.  

Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN news

Article (news)

PH EDUCATION

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173815080149320230705-sta-ana-recognition-day-JC1165.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Children accompanied by their parents interact with school principal Larry Rosete after a school recognition day activity at the Sta Ana Elementary School in Manila on July 5, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/>Children accompanied by their parents interact with school principal Larry Rosete after a school recognition day activity at the Sta Ana Elementary School in Manila on July 5, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA — Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo, a co-chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), believes the Department of Education did not prioritize the appointment of principals in DepEd schools, which is why 55 percent of these schools do not have principals.The shortage was one of the findings of EDCOM II in its year two report entitled “Fixing the Foundations: A Matter of National Survival” published on January 27. It said that out of 45,199 DepEd schools in the country, only 20,381 have principals while 24,916 are without principals.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/29/deped-addressing-alarming-shortage-of-school-principals-1507">READ: DepEd addressing ‘alarming’ shortage of school principals</a></div>“Medyo nagulat kami kasi alam natin na in any organization, in a school, ang pinaka-importante nga yung leader eh. Because meron talagang dapat na kumukumpas,” Romulo told ABS-CBN News on Wednesday. “I think we can safely say hindi naging priority ng DepEd for decades ito. I think it’s really a, it’s really a reflection of leadership.”Romulo said EDCOM II only “stumbled upon” the issue when they visited a school and found out that it did not have a principal.According to DepEd Undersecretary Willie Cabral, capable teachers in charge (TICs), officers in charge (OICs), and school heads have been designated in schools without principals.Romulo, however, questioned this.“From their point of view, is that enough? Kung talagang sapat yun, why did they not appoint that teacher in charge or OIC as principal? Obviously hindi. Obviously merong either kulang ng qualifications or kulang ng training pa,” Romulo remarked. “The attitude of saying na kaya na, parang hindi naman ata ano, I think we should not be happy with that.”Although Cabral has said that there will be a reclassification and about 7,700 TICs are eligible to be principals, Romulo pointed out that this is still short since this will only bring the number of schools with principals to more than 28,000.Romulo also criticized DepEd for not appointing principals to schools with available plantilla posts.To address the problem, Romulo wants the department to appoint a principal to every school no matter its size, thus revising DepEd Order 77 which states that a principal will only be designated to a school if the school has at least nine teachers. One principal will also be designated to a cluster of at least three schools which has a combined number of nine teachers.  Romulo also said the DepEd Central Office must closely monitor the appointment of principals which is the task of division offices.Another suggestion is for DepEd to provide a support system for principals.“The moment you become a principal, ibang trabaho yun from being a teacher, being in charge of a certain department, iba yun pero wala ring support system. Talagang parang the principal is left to his or her own in order to be able to adjust to that work,” Romulo said.“May NEAP na tayo eh, National Educators Academy of the Philippines. They should ask NEAP to create a program para may support sa newly appointed principals,” he added.The lawmaker also recommends the implementation of a flexible term for principals so that they have enough time to finish their programs instead of being limited by a specific term.

Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo, a co-chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), believes the Department of Education did not prioritize the appointment of principals in DepEd schools.

Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo, a co-chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), believes the Department of Education did not prioritize the appointment of principals in DepEd schools.

DepEd’s non-prioritization of appointment of principals led to shortage: Romulo

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DepEd’s non-prioritization of appointment of principals led to shortage: Romulo

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 29, 2025 07:42 PM PHT

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Roman Romulo

principals

shortage

DepEd

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