‘Repetitive paperwork’ distracts teachers from classroom focus

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‘Repetitive paperwork’ distracts teachers from classroom focus

EDUCATION. A teacher writes on the blackboard at Iloilo Central Elementary School in Iloilo City on April 8, 2024.

Arnold Almacen/Iloilo City Mayor's Office

'Teachers are often required to provide the same data multiple times to various DepEd offices, even though the information has already been submitted,' says EDCOM 2

MANILA, Philippines – Although hiring administrative officers (AOs) in schools has provided some relief, the Year Two Report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) revealed that two out of three teachers are still working beyond the prescribed 40 hours per week due to “repetitive paperwork.”

“Administrative personnel are responsible for a wide range of essential tasks at schools, including managing records and performing clerical functions. However, one of the most burdensome issues teachers continue to face is the repetitive submission of paperwork,” EDCOM 2 said in its report released on Monday, January 27.

EDCOM 2 cited “redundant tasks,” such as submitting data for the Learner Information System and the Enhanced Basic Education Information System to the Department of Education (DepEd), as barriers preventing teachers from focusing on classroom instruction.

“Teachers are often required to provide the same data multiple times to various DepEd offices, even though the information has already been submitted. This duplication not only disrupts instructional time but also adds unnecessary stress to teachers, as they are frequently pulled away from their classrooms to complete these redundant tasks,” the commission noted.

Citing data from research company IDinsight, EDCOM 2 said that while the government has already hired a total of 24,519 AOs as of 2024, this “remains insufficient, especially for large schools with more than 500 students.”

After careful review, EDCOM 2 said the DepEd requested a budget of P6.8 billion for school year 2025-2026 to fund 20,000 more AO positions.

However, the problem is worsening, as some administrative officers are “considering resignation” due to the increased workload of managing multiple schools.

Hiring of project development officers

EDCOM 2 also recommended that the government hire project development officers (PDOs) to offload some work from AOs.

“Commitments may have been made for new AO positions, but there have been no allocations made for [PDO] positions. While AOs handle day-to-day operational tasks, PDOs are needed to manage projects and initiatives that extend beyond regular administrative duties, such as development programs, community engagement, and external partnerships,” EDCOM 2 said.

The commission warned that if the issue remains unsolved, it would snowball in the next years.

“Without these PDOs, the administrative burden of overseeing both internal operations and external projects, which is anticipated to continue over the next five years, falls on a small number of staff,” EDCOM 2 said.

No coordination

The shortage of AOs and the lack of PDOs are just the tip of the iceberg. EDCOM 2 also found a lack of clear coordination between government agencies responsible for hiring the support staff.

“The lack of coordination among DepEd, the DBM (Department of Budget and Management), and the CSC (Civil Service Commission) complicates the hiring process, resulting in a fragmented system with multiple steps and agencies, creating bottlenecks at various stages,” the commission said.

One bottleneck identified by EDCOM 2 is that schools must secure a Notice of Organization, Staffing, and Compensation Action from regional DBM offices before recruitment can start, adding an extra step to the hiring process.

“Inefficiencies in paperwork and approvals further slow the process. Notifications from the Human Resource Management Office, which oversees job postings, applicant assessments, and final appointments requiring CSC attestation, involve redundant steps that frequently delay the onboarding of
new non-teaching staff,” the commission noted.

While the DBM claims hiring can take just a week, EDCOM 2 found that delays at the DepEd and the CSC can extend the process to six months or more for a single position.

If the hiring issue continues, teachers would be forced to take on additional administrative duties. Education experts have pointed to “overworked” teachers as a key factor contributing to the Philippines’ high level of learning poverty.

You can access the full Year Two Report here. – Rappler.com