Underpaid and overworked, teachers’ clamor for better work conditions has finally paid off as the Department of Education (DepEd) has ordered schools not to force educators to teach more than six hours, as stated under the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

In a memorandum signed by education secretary Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara, teachers who will render additional teaching loads would be properly compensated.

Based on the memorandum order, actual teaching loads in excess of six hours will be compensated through payment of teaching overload, provided that it does not exceed two hours per day as stipulated in Republic Act 4670.

Angara clarified that the work hours compensatory order is aligned with the Magna Carta for Public School teachers and DepEd Order No. 5.

“(Only) actual classroom teaching rendered” per subject and class advising duties are treated as teaching load and should be counted as part of the six-hour daily teaching load,” the education chief pointed out.

“(Furthermore,) the teaching overload pay should be the total overload hours multiplied by the prime hourly teaching rate,” he added.

This means that if the monthly basic salary of one teacher is ₱27,000 and they rendered 22.75 hours of teaching overload for one month, they shall be compensated with an additional ₱5,756.75.

Meanwhile, Angara assured teachers that there would be no deductions to their salaries as long as they have rendered six hours of actual classroom teaching as this will be deemed to have satisfied the daily working hours that is required.