PUBLIC-school teachers will soon be required to render only six hours of work instead of eight.

“We are set to release the guideline on the petition [to reduce teachers’ working hours] within the week. We are just fine-tuning the provision,” Ramon Bacani, education undersecretary for regional planning, said, adding that consultation with principals, teachers and other education sectors were made to get their inputs and views on the issue.

Bacani said the contentious issue that has yet to be resolved is on the two remaining hours that teachers have to render daily so that they will be able to comply with the eight-hour daily or 40-hour-week requirement of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

“Ito talagang nalalabing dalawang oras para makumpleto nila ang walong oras sa bawat araw ang medyo contentious,” Bacani admitted adding that they are looking at teachers using the remaining hours for “teaching-related activities.”

The nature of a teacher’s workload in the six-hour daily shift proposed must equate with the 40 hours total in a week, he said.

But even this simple issue, according to the official is being debated since there are questions as to what type of teaching-related activities would be allowed and whether these should be held inside or outside the school premises.

“Kailangan ba mag-stay pa sila sa eskuwelahan pag natapos na nila iyong six hours para makumpleto nila iyong walong oras o puwede na silang umuwi,” he said adding that this might vary from school to school.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus confirmed that the circular would be issued this week.

“We will come up with the guidelines. May draft na si Undersecretary Bacani tungkol dito,” he said.

Earlier, the Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) expressed concern that teachers might be overworked this school year after the Department of Education (DepEd) failed to come up with a circular regarding the six-hour daily shift despite the issuance of CSC Resolution 080096 issued on January 28, which allows the teachers to stay for only six hours in school.

The CSC resolution likewise instructed the DepEd to provide the guidelines for the implementation of the order.

TDC president Benjo Basas said the CSC resolution was mandated by Republic Act 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

Basas said many schools are still following the old working hours owing to the failure of the DepEd to come up with the guidelines.

Basas said that aside from actual classroom instruction, teachers double as administrative workers, sports coaches, judges in various school contests, and even chaperons in intra-school competitions.

Teachers are also required to serve as election inspectors.

Basas said it is a known fact that many teachers developed work-related diseases, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis because of long working hours.

Teachers said if they cannot be paid adequately, their work load should be lightened instead.

ABS-CBN will not pay ransom for news crew

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IN accordance with the 110th Independence Day celebration today, the north and southbound lanes of Roxas Boulevard in Manila from Katigbak to T.M. Kalaw Streets will be closed at exactly 6 a.m.

THE Commission on Appointments confirmed on Wednesday the five top Cabinet officials, including Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

PUBLIC-school teachers will soon be required to render only six hours of work instead of eight.

“We are set to release the guideline on the petition [to reduce teachers’ working hours] within the week.

MORE than a dozen Filipino associations in Taiwan are helping the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) in the preparations leading up to the 110th Philippine Independence Day celebration in Taipei, scheduled on June 15.