SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian has called on the Department of Education to expedite the hiring of administrative and technical staff to help manage the growing administrative workload placed on teachers.

Gatchalian stressed that reducing the clerical burden on educators is essential for protecting their well-being and allowing them to focus on teaching.

“The excessive paperwork takes time away from teaching,” said Gatchalian. “If we want to improve the quality of education, we must ensure teachers can focus on their primary role.”

The senator’s call follows a report by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which found that two out of three public school teachers work beyond their 40-hour workweek, largely due to administrative tasks.

In response, the 2025 General Appropriations Act has authorized the creation of 10,000 positions for administrative officers in DepEd. Gatchalian urged the department to ensure a swift and transparent hiring process.