Teachers in the Philippine public school system are not confined to their classrooms all day. Thanks to updated DepEd and Civil Service Commission (CSC) policies, they are now allowed to go home during duty hours to finish non-teaching responsibilities — as long as they follow the proper documentation process.
This setup recognizes the reality that many teacher ancillary tasks, such as checking papers, preparing lessons, or attending webinars, can be done more productively at home. But freedom comes with accountability. If a teacher chooses to leave the school premises — even to go home — they must download and accomplish two required forms: the Locator Slip and the Certificate of Undertaking.
🏫 What Are Ancillary Tasks? Why Do They Matter? 📚
Teacher ancillary tasks refer to all duties not directly involving classroom teaching. These may include administrative work, lesson planning, online trainings, grading, and even coordinating with local offices. While not part of the standard classroom workload, these tasks are crucial to a teacher’s 8-hour workday.
According to DepEd Order No. 291, s. 2008, public school teachers are required to render six (6) hours of teaching and two (2) hours of ancillary work per day. In 2022, the Civil Service Commission issued Resolution No. 2200209, which clearly states that teachers may perform the remaining two hours either within or outside the school premises — including from home — as long as they have completed the required classroom teaching time.
🚪 Leaving School to Work from Home: It’s Allowed 🏠
If a teacher has finished their classroom schedule and opts to go home to complete the rest of their required work hours, this is considered valid under CSC and DepEd policy. However, this flexibility must be properly documented.
Leaving school before or after teaching hours or during vacant periods to go home requires that the teacher submits either a Locator Slip or a Certificate of Undertaking, depending on the context. These forms prove that, while the teacher was not physically present on campus, they were still fulfilling their government service time.
📝 When to Use the Locator Slip 📌
The Locator Slip is used when a teacher leaves the school during vacant hours or planning periods — for example, in between classes — and chooses to go home to continue their tasks. It shows the teacher’s purpose for leaving, destination (home), time of departure, and expected time of return (if applicable).
This form is logged in the school’s official records and must be attached to the teacher’s Daily Time Record (DTR). According to internal DepEd policies and COA audit standards, this helps ensure that no government time is wasted, and that teachers are working as required — just in a more comfortable or practical setting.
🖊️ When to Use the Certificate of Undertaking ✍️
If a teacher finishes all their teaching duties and goes home for the rest of the day to complete work-related tasks (e.g., lesson planning, report writing), they should submit a Certificate of Undertaking.
This document is a personal attestation that the teacher performed the required ancillary tasks off-campus, specifically at home, and did so diligently and responsibly. It should include the date, time, and nature of the tasks performed.
This certificate is then submitted alongside the teacher’s DTR, serving as proof that their off-campus hours were still part of official service. As confirmed by CSC Resolution No. 2200209, this process is fully compliant — provided the DTR reflects six hours of teaching.
📥 DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL DEPED FORMS 🗂️
To stay compliant and avoid salary delays or audit issues, make sure you use the official forms only. Download here:
👉 Download Locator Slip and Certificate of Undertaking
These are printable, editable, and accepted nationwide in all DepEd schools.
🔒 A Matter of Trust, Flexibility, and Accountability
This policy change is a significant step toward empowering teachers to work efficiently — even from home — while still maintaining transparency and government accountability.
By using the Locator Slip and Certificate of Undertaking, teachers are not only following rules — they are protecting their professional integrity, their time records, and their payroll processing.
DepEd and CSC’s guidance shows a clear balance: give teachers flexibility, but ensure documentation. In this digital age, we must support the idea that quality education doesn't always have to be confined inside a building. Sometimes, great teaching starts at home — with a laptop, a lesson plan, and a cup of coffee.
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