THE DEPARTMENT of Education issued a memorandum that will serve as a guide for the hiring of teachers in public schools.

DepEd Memorandum No. 76 says that by August 31, the deficient positions of teachers should be filled.

The department also reminded the school division offices that the selection of teachers must be in accordance with the principles of “merit, fitness, competence, equal opportunity, transparency and accountability.”

As a non-partisan organization, DepEd can receive endorsements from anyone, but this does not mean they will be given priority because the hiring process must be “merit-based.”

DepEd also issued a separate memorandum regarding the computation of teachers’ proportional vacation pay for School Year 2021-2022.

School Year 2022-2023 started last week. Many schools implemented face-to-face classes even though its full implementation will be in November.

Some of the challenges found in the first week of classes are the lack of classrooms, chairs and teachers in some schools.