THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers  has called on the Department of Education  to expedite the hiring of 16,000 new teachers before classes resume on June 16.

ACT Teachers Partylist National Chairperson Vladimir Quetua welcomed the announcement but emphasized that the public education system needs over 100,000 additional teachers to achieve optimal student-teacher ratios and ease classroom overcrowding.

“We welcome the 16,000 new teaching positions, but this barely scratches the surface. The shortage of teachers is massive, and this only addresses teaching-related needs,” Quetua said.

Earlier this week, DepEd announced that it aims to hire 16,000 teachers by the end of the third quarter. Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said these positions are part of the 20,000 slots funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, aligning with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to reduce class sizes and lighten teacher workloads.

However, Quetua warned that the hiring process remains slow and could result in continued overcrowding once the school year begins.

He highlighted the reality faced by many public-school teachers, who are often assigned to classrooms with more than 70 students.

“Imagine teaching 83 students. Just taking attendance eats up most of your time. How can a teacher effectively deliver lessons or provide feedback?” he said.

With the June 16 opening fast approaching, Quetua raised concerns about delays in recruitment.

“In my experience, I did my teaching demo in March, got a call in August, and only received my plantilla position in September,” he shared.

“We urge the Department of Budget and Management and DepEd to immediately open the 16,000 to 20,000 new slots to speed up hiring,” he added.

Quetua said ACT hopes at least 4,000 new teachers will be deployed before the start of classes.