DepEd targets to hire 33,000 teachers next year

To ease congestion and strengthen early-grade learning nationwide, the Department of Education is targeting one of its largest hiring drives next year, with plans to recruit nearly 33,000 new classroom teachers.

- By EVELYN MACAIRAN

In a statement, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara announced the creation of 32,916 Teacher I positions to improve instructional quality and reduce the burden on existing school personnel.

"If we hire thousands of new teachers, the classrooms will be less crowded and we will be able to focus on the children. We would also be able to strengthen the capability of the teachers and increase their quality of teaching in every school," Angara said.

Additional positions include 6,000 School Principal I and 10,000 School Counselor Associate I items to address leadership gaps and bolster guidance services, particularly amid rising concerns over learner well-being and bullying on school grounds.

The department is also completing the recruitment pipeline for items funded in previous years.