Prohibit ranking in hiring public school teachers – solon

Johnny D. Guevarra / PNA stock photo

MANILA — A lawmaker has filed a measure that prohibits ranking in the hiring of public school teachers.

Rep. Emil L. Ong (2nd District, Northern Samar) filed House Bill 4979 to ensure equal employment opportunities among teacher applicants.

According to Ong, ranking under the Department of Education (DepEd) Order shall apply only when there are no qualified applicants for the vacant positions in public schools and other learning centers, and when there are no qualified bonafide residents of the barangay, municipality, city or province where the school is located.

Ong said the guidelines issued by the DepEd in hiring teachers require more criteria, which make it more difficult for teacher-applicants to be hired.

“Magna Carta for Public School Teachers provides for the minimum educational qualifications for teacher-applicants without precluding the DepEd to lay down any recruitment policy with respect to the selection and appointment of teachers,” Ong said.

He also said Republic Act 8190, known as An Act Granting Priority Residents of the Barangay, Municipality or City where the School is located in the appointment or assignment of Classroom Public School Teachers, was enacted to best serve the purpose of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

“Well settled is the rule that amendments to an existing and valid law should only be done through proper legislation, and that a mere department order cannot effectively amend a law like Republic Act 8190,” Ong said.

“It is therefore in contravention with the existing law,” Ong added.

Ranking refers to a list of people or things that are ordered according to their quality ability, size, among others.

Recruitment of teacher-applicants by DepEd includes everything from applying, evaluating, ranking and ultimately hiring the successful teacher-applicants.

The basic requirements for applicant usually are the application letter, Civil Service Form 212, Rating obtained from The Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), photo copy of college or university transcript or records, service record if any, and Certificate of specialized training, if any.

These documents shall then be submitted to the school head of the public school where the applicant intends to teach. An applicant should then prepare for an interview, create a good demonstration plan, and take an English proficiency exam. After going through all the process, the applicant then shall wait for the release of the rank list of teacher – applicants.

The selection committee evaluates applicants based on the following criteria: Education; Teaching experience; LET; Experiential learning course; Specialized training and skills; Interview; Demonstration teaching; and Communication Skills.