THE DEPARTMENT of Education, with the help of the Australian government, developed two new policies that aim to raise the bar of the professional standards of school heads and supervisors in the country.

DepEd recently issued Department Order 24, s. 2020 or the National Adoption and Implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads, and DO 25, s. 2020 or the National Adoption and Implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for Supervisors.

The newly adopted standards, which are consistent with the K to 12 reforms, set out clear expectations of school heads and supervisors in different career stages, from beginning to exemplary practice.

The standards encourage greater proficiency, provide support for professional learning and de-velopment, help identify development needs, and facilitate uniform assessment of performance.

They also complement the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers that was adopted in 2017 and is now used by over 800,000 public school teachers.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that these new policies aim to develop effective school leaders who could adapt with the recent changes in the education frameworks globally.

“The changes of various national and global frameworks in education and the changing characteristics of our 21st century learners necessitate a call for the rethinking of our professional standards for our school heads and supervisors,” Briones said.

“This is part of our efforts to prepare the Department for the transition into the future. We want to develop effective school leaders beyond our terms and beyond our lifetime for the future of education,” she added.

Australia worked with DepEd in developing the two sets of standards through the Research Center for Teacher Quality — a partnership between the Philippine Normal University and the University of New England, Australia.

“The development and adoption of professional standards for school heads, supervisors and teachers are significant milestones in DepEd’s efforts to improve teaching quality,” Richard Sisson, acting Australian Ambassador, said.

“We are pleased that in time for National Teachers’ Month, DepEd has adopted these evidence-based policies, which will help align the education system with global standards while responding to the Philippine context,” he added.

He said that “teaching quality has been at the core of Australia’s education cooperation with the Philippines for more than 30 years.”

RCTQ Director Dr. Gina Gonong said the professional standards will “provide a clear framework for school leaders to deepen their expertise in pedagogical, management and leadership skills, in ways that support improved student learning outcomes.”

Meanwhile, DepEd Undersecretary for Planning, Human Resource and Organizational Development, and Field Operations Jesus Lorenzo Mateo said that the development of the PPSSH and the PPSS is one of the department’s key reforms in improving the quality of education.

“Quality learning outcomes are produced by quality teachers, who are supported by effective school leaders,” Mateo said.

“Ensuring the delivery of quality education requires clear professional standards that are responsive to the demands of the dynamic education environment,” he added.

The DepEd has 43,448 school heads and 5,550 supervisors who will put the policy into practice.