One year later: What has changed at DepEd under the new reforms?

A year into its education reform agenda, the Department of Education (DepEd) has unveiled major accomplishments across early childhood care, teacher welfare, curriculum reform, infrastructure development, and digital innovation.

- By MERLINA HERNANDO MALIPOT

These changes, outlined in a DepEd release on Saturday, July 26, align with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Under the President’s instruction, DepEd — led by Secretary Sonny Angara — said these reforms reflect the agency’s push toward a more inclusive, responsive, and resilient education system.

Strengthening early childhood care and nutrition

DepEd said it has ramped up efforts to strengthen early childhood care and nutrition by expanding key programs aimed at supporting the country’s youngest learners.

Its School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP), for instance, has been expanded to benefit all 1.4 million Kindergarten learners starting this school year — an early fivefold increase.

In addition, DepEd said at least 328 new Child Development Centers are being built in the poorest municipalities. Enrollment processes for early learners have also been simplified to encourage participation, the agency added.

Improving teacher welfare and solving staffing gaps

To improve teacher welfare and address persistent staffing gaps, DepEd said it has rolled out key reforms aimed at easing workloads, filling vacancies, and boosting support for educators.

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Text: “We have successfully filled over 97 percent of the 22,000 new teaching positions and 99 percent of the 5,000 administrative staff positions created last year, with thousands more on the way,” DepEd said.

Moreover, career growth is being supported through the creation of new teaching levels (Teacher IV to VII) and accelerated promotions for over 2,100 school leaders.

Teachers are also benefiting from improved compensation: The nontaxable teaching supplies allowance has doubled to P10,000, the Teachers’ Salary Subsidy has increased, and for the first time, guidelines for medical allowances have been issued.