Teachers' group calls for policy guidelines on career progression

The Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) has called on the Department of Education (DepEd) and other concerned agencies to issue clear policy guidelines on the implementation of the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system for public school teachers.

- By ELIZABETH MARCELO

In a video statement posted on the group's official Facebook account, TDC chairman Benjo Basas lamented that despite the signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the ECP system last July 26, the program remains unimplemented due to a lack of clear details, especially on the qualification standards for teachers' promotion.

"Many were asking if the career progression system is already being implemented—the answer is not yet. This is even if the IRR, saying that (the ECP system) shall be implemented immediately, was signed last July 26 by the DepEd, DBM (Department of Budget and Management), PRC (Professional Regulatory Commission), and Civil Service (Commission),"" Basas said.

He was referring to the IRR of Executive Order 174 series of 2022, which mandates the establishment of an expanded career progression system for public school teachers.

"Up to now, the ECP has yet to be implemented. The aspiration of our teachers that they will be promoted from Teacher 1 to Teacher 7 is far from happening because there are no clear guidelines on the promotion process," he said.