SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian has welcomed the Department of Education’s renewal and hiring of over 7,000 administrative support staff, saying the move will help alleviate the burden of non-teaching tasks on public school teachers.

He emphasized that reducing teachers’ workload will allow them to focus more on their primary responsibility— ensuring students’ learning and academic progress.

Gatchalian cited findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education, which revealed that public school teachers handle more than 50 non-teaching and ancillary tasks, such as administrative duties, clerical work, and other responsibilities unrelated to instruction.

He stressed that with sufficient administrative staff, teachers can dedicate more time to lesson planning, classroom instruction, and student development.

Despite this progress, the senator acknowledged that the country still faces a shortage of non-teaching personnel in public schools.

To address this, he highlighted his proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 2493 or the Revised Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, which seeks to institutionalize a policy prohibiting the assignment of non-teaching tasks to teachers.

Under the proposed bill, the DepEd would be required to fill all non-teaching positions, ensuring that educators are no longer burdened with administrative work.

Gatchalian argued that investing in the well-being and efficiency of teachers is key to improving the quality of education in the country.

“The advancement of education begins with taking care of our teachers,” he said.

The senator has long advocated for reforms in the education sector, particularly in enhancing teacher support systems.

He reiterated that reducing unnecessary workload would not only improve teachers’ productivity but also benefit students by providing them with a more focused and effective learning experience.

As discussions on the Revised Magna Carta for Public School Teachers continue, Gatchalian urged policymakers and education stakeholders to support measures that prioritize teacher welfare.

He reaffirmed his commitment to pushing for policies that create a more conducive environment for both educators and learners.