Appointment to Teacher Council Secretariat delayed? DepEd says no

THE Department of Education yesterday belied the claim of the private sector group Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) of delays in appointments for the Teacher Education Council (TEC) Secretariat, a national government body mandated with drafting a new roadmap for training future educators in the country.

In a statement, the DepEd said it has always held the highest regard for teacher quality and has consistently made teacher education a priority.

“As chairperson, Vice President and Secretary of the Department of Education Sara Duterte spearheaded multiple meetings of the TEC which included several discussions on the creation, selection process, and appointment of qualified individuals who will be part of the Council Secretariat,” the DepEd said.

Aside from the regular Council meetings, it said technical meetings were also held with the Department of Budget and Management in relation to the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the TEC Secretariat.

According to the DepEd, the proposed organizational structure and staffing pattern of the TEC Secretariat was submitted to the DBM last March 25 and was approved by the Budget Department last month.

“Yesterday, June 11, 2024, the physical copy of the Notice of Organization, Staffing and Compensation Action was received through the Office of the Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development,” the department said.

“Contrary to the baseless insinuations made by a certain ‘advocacy group,’ DepEd understands the importance of these appointments for the TEC’s functionality and the broader goal of enhancing teacher education and training, in as much as we also understand the need to abide by the proper processes in relation to the creation of new plantilla items in government,” it added.

The department also assured the public and all education stakeholders that the appointments will be completed in “due course and in accordance with existing rules, as the TEC embarks on its critical work for the benefit of our Filipino teachers.”

The PBEd had earlier urged Duterte to appoint officials to the TEC Secretariat needed for the body to function, two years after its implementing law – Republic