If you’re a Filipino educator, school head, or division official, you’ve likely heard about the newly released DBM-DepEd Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2025. This policy introduces modified staffing standards that directly affect the number of authorized Master Teacher and School Principal positions in public elementary and secondary schools.
But what does this really mean for you, your school, and your teaching career? Will it create more opportunities for promotion? Will it improve supervision and support inside the classroom?
Let’s break it down in simple terms—so you can see how these changes impact your work and what steps you need to take moving forward.
Why These Staffing Standards Matter
For years, many teachers and school leaders have struggled with limited plantilla items, making promotions to Master Teacher or School Principal positions highly competitive.
The 2025 modifications aim to:
-
Expand opportunities for career progression by aligning staffing with actual teaching loads.
-
Ensure better instructional support through clearer teacher-to-Master Teacher ratios.
-
Recognize the unique needs of different school types, such as multigrade schools, Regional Science High Schools, Special Needs Education, and Alternative Learning Systems.
Simply put, these changes are designed to support teachers, strengthen supervision, and improve student learning outcomes.
Key Changes in the Modified Staffing Standards
1. School Principal Positions
-
One (1) School Principal position per school, regardless of size or type.
-
This means every school with a unique School ID is assured of a School Principal item (I–IV depending on context).
-
-
No more sharing of principals between schools, which often led to administrative delays and stretched leadership.
What this means for you:
If you’re currently serving as Teacher-in-Charge or Officer-in-Charge in a school without an official principal item, there’s now a clearer path to a permanent principalship.
2. Master Teacher Positions in Elementary Schools
-
One (1) Master Teacher for every five (5) teachers in the school.
✅ Example: A school with 25 teachers can have up to five (5) Master Teacher items.
Why this matters: This adjustment ensures more mentoring and coaching support for classroom teachers, especially in large elementary schools.
3. Junior High Schools (JHS)
-
One (1) Master Teacher for every five (5) teachers per subject/learning area.
✅ Example: A JHS with 15 Math teachers can have up to 3 Master Teachers in Math.
Impact: Subject-specific mentoring becomes stronger, allowing teachers to benefit from technical guidance in their own learning area.
4. Senior High Schools (SHS)
-
One (1) Master Teacher for every five (5) teachers per track (e.g., Academic, TVL, Sports, Arts and Design).
✅ Example: If your SHS has 10 TVL teachers, the school can have 2 Master Teachers for TVL.
Takeaway: This strengthens specialized supervision in SHS, where students’ career-ready skills demand highly contextual teaching support.
5. Regional Science High Schools (RSHS)
-
One (1) Master Teacher for every three (3) teachers per subject/learning area.
✅ Example: An RSHS with 9 Science teachers can have 3 Master Teachers in Science.
Reasoning: Science high schools require more intensive mentoring given their advanced and research-oriented curriculum.
6. Special Needs Education (SNEd)
-
One (1) Master Teacher for every five (5) SNEd teachers within the Schools Division.
Impact: Recognizes the specialized expertise needed to mentor and guide teachers handling learners with disabilities and diverse needs.
7. Alternative Learning System (ALS)
-
One (1) Master Teacher for every five (5) ALS teachers within the division.
✅ Example: If a division has 20 ALS teachers, it can have 4 Master Teachers in ALS.
Value: ALS teachers often work in unique contexts. Having Master Teachers ensures they receive targeted coaching and support.
8. Multigrade Schools and Hardship Posts
-
One (1) Master Teacher for every three (3) teachers in these schools.
Why? Teachers in remote or hardship areas face multiple challenges. A higher ratio of Master Teachers provides extra support and recognition for these contexts.
What Teachers and School Leaders Should Do Next
-
Stay Informed – Review the full DBM-DepEd Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2025 to understand all provisions.
-
Check Staffing Inventories – Schools and divisions must submit updated staffing inventories to DBM for reclassification or retitling.
-
Prepare for Opportunities – Teachers aiming for promotion to Master Teacher or Principal positions should update their portfolios, attend relevant trainings, and strengthen instructional leadership skills.
-
Collaborate with Leadership – Work with your school head and division office to align staffing needs with the new standards.
Conclusion & Call-to-Action
The Modified Staffing Standards for Master Teachers and School Principals (2025) mark a major step toward strengthening instructional leadership and opening more career opportunities for teachers across the country.
For teachers, this means greater chances for promotion and access to mentoring support. For school heads, it ensures stronger leadership structures. And for learners, it promises better teaching and learning outcomes.
π Now is the time to prepare. Update your teaching portfolios, engage in professional development, and collaborate with your division office to maximize these new staffing provisions.
What do you think about the new staffing standards? Share your thoughts in the comments and let’s discuss how this will shape the future of Philippine education.