The Department of Education (DepEd) received approval from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to allow the renewal of the provisional appointments of the affected Senior High School (SHS) teachers for the Academic Year (SY) 2022-2023 in the absence of available qualified and licensed teachers.
In CSC Resolution No. 2200353 dated August 18, 2022, allowing the reassignment of SHS provisional teachers who were first hired in 2016 and 2017, provided that the teachers can show proof that they have taken the licensure exam at least once in the past five year.
It can be recalled that the K to 12 Law allows the acceptance of unlicensed teachers to teach specialized subjects in SHS, provided that the provisional teacher must pass the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) within five years. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the administration of LEPT is limited, thereby limiting the affected provisional teachers from receiving LEPT as of 2020.
In 2021, DepEd asked the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and CSC to prioritize the call of the affected SHS provisional teachers who were first hired in 2016 to be accommodated in the LEPT administration and reassigned beyond the 5-year allowable period. With the recent issuance of the CSC, they were granted another year extension of appointment, along with those who were first hired in 2017.
The CSC also promised to continue to consider future appeals from DepEd in the event of a similar incident.
Meanwhile, the Department is currently working with the PRC for the re-opening of the Online Application System to accommodate SHS provisional teachers who failed to obtain previous LEPTs in the scheduled exam this September 2022.
The measures are aimed at securing sufficient numbers of SHS teachers with the expertise and specialization required and ensuring the continued employment and livelihood of SHS teachers, especially in the midst of the pandemic.
DepEd will issue implementing guidelines of CSC Resolution No. 2200353 to lay down specific rules and procedures, specifically in compliance with the conditions stated in the Resolution.
