Civil-Service Classification of Public-School Teachers in the Philippines A comprehensive legal overview
1. Constitutional and Statutory Foundations
| Instrument | Key Provision for Teachers |
|---|---|
| 1987 Constitution | • Art. IX-B sec. 2(1): All public-school teachers are part of the “career service” under the Civil Service Commission (CSC). • Art. XIV sec. 5(4): Congress shall enhance the right of teachers to professional advancement and quality education. |
| Republic Act (RA) 4670 – Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (1966) | Declares a state policy to ensure professionalization, protection, and fair compensation of teachers; provides the original statutory framework for recruitment, classification, promotion, and labor standards. |
| Presidential Decree 807 (1975) & Executive Order 292, Book V | Codify the modern Civil Service law, vesting CSC with rule-making power over appointment, classification, and discipline. |
| RA 9155 – Governance of Basic Education Act (2001) | Devolves personnel management for basic-education teachers to the Department of Education (DepEd) within CSC rules. |
| RA 7836, amended by RA 9293 – Teachers Professionalization Acts | Requires licensure (LET) for anyone occupying a DepEd teaching item, thereby placing them in the professional sub-category of the career service. |
| RA 11466 – Salary Standardization Law V (2020) | Sets the current salary grades for Teacher I–VII and allied positions. |
2. The Civil-Service Structure and Where Teachers Fit In
Career vs. Non-Career Service Public-school teachers belong to the career service, characterized by meritocratic entrance, security of tenure, opportunity for advancement, and strictly apolitical conduct (Sec. 6, PD 807).
Levels within the Career Service (Rule II, Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other HR Actions, ORAOHRA):
Level Description Teacher Placement First Level Clerical, trades, custodial None Second Level Technical and professional jobs requiring at least baccalaureate preparation and eligibility Teachers, Master Teachers, Head Teachers, Principals Third Level Career Executive Service (CES) positions Regional Directors upward (not classroom teachers) Sub-Categories in the Second Level
- Professional/Technical – Teaching items are professional; eligibility is the Professional Teacher License.
- Supervisory/Managerial – Head Teachers, Principals, and Supervisors are still under the Second Level but in the supervisory sub-category; they require either Principal’s Test eligibility or CES/CESO rank at higher tiers.
3. Position Titles and Salary-Grade Classification (DepEd & DBM Joint Circulars 1 s. 2020 onward)
| Line Item (Plantilla) | Abbrev. | Salary Grade (RA 11466, 2025 tranche) | Equivalent Monthly Rate (₱) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher I | T-I | SG-11 | 29,190 |
| Teacher II | T-II | SG-12 | 31,320 |
| Teacher III | T-III | SG-13 | 33,580 |
| Teacher IV | T-IV | SG-14 | 36,620 |
| Teacher V | T-V | SG-15 | 40,500 |
| Teacher VI | T-VI | SG-16 | 45,203 |
| Teacher VII | T-VII | SG-17 | 51,357 |
| Master Teacher I–IV | MT I–IV | SG-18 to SG-21 | 57,347 – 73,511 |
| Head Teacher I–VI | HT I–VI | SG-14 to SG-19 | 36,620 – 62,151 |
| Principal I–IV | Prin I–IV | SG-19 to SG-22 | 62,151 – 80,883 |
| Schools Division Superintendent | SDS | SG-26 | 131,124 |
Notes
- The “Teacher IV–VII” levels were created by DBM-DepEd Joint Circular 1-2019 to ease attrition bottlenecks.
- Special Science Teacher and SPED Teacher ladders exist under RA 10612 and specific DBM circulars with higher starting grades (SG-16).
4. Eligibility, Appointment, and Promotion
Minimum Entry Requirements (Sec. 23, RA 4670; DepEd Merit Selection Plan):
- Bachelor’s degree in Education or equivalent with 18 units of professional education;
- Professional Teacher License (LET passer);
- Fit and proper moral character certification.
Merit-based Appointment
- Division Selection Committees use DepEd Order 66 s. 2007 ranking tool (education, experience, training, demonstration teaching, written exam, behavioral event interview, etc.).
- The appointing authority issues a permanent appointment once the appointee completes six months of probationary status (Sec. 24, RA 4670; CSC MC 15 s. 1999).
Promotion Tracks
- Vertical: Teacher → Master Teacher → Head Teacher/Principal.
- Lateral: Regular to Special Programs (e.g., SPED, Science).
- Promotions abide by CEPA (career, eligibility, performance, and accomplishment) plus DepEd Order 3 s. 2016 Results-based Performance Management System (RPMS).
Automatic Upgrading & Equivalents Under Sec. 35, RA 4670, teachers who finish MA or PhD degrees enjoy salary or credit advantages; DBM Budget Circular 2004-5A allows step increments for every 3 years of satisfactory service.
5. Security of Tenure and Due Process
- Constitution (Art. IX-B, Sec. 2[3]): No removal except for cause provided by law and after due process.
- RA 4670, Sec. 9–10: A teacher may be suspended or dismissed only for causes under CSC rules (dishonesty, gross misconduct, inefficiency, etc.); investigation must observe written charges, answer, and hearing; the investigating committee must render a decision within 30 days.
- Appeals lie to the CSC or the National Appeals Committee (DepEd-CSC Joint Committee).
6. Rights, Benefits, and Incentives
| Benefit | Legal Basis | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 40-hour workweek | Sec. 13, RA 4670; CSC MC 41 s. 1998 | Only 6 hours are devoted to actual classroom teaching; 2 hours to co-curricular work; 2 hours may be stayed at home. |
| Special Hardship Allowance (SHA) | Sec. 19, RA 4670; DepEd Order 26 s. 2022 | 15-25 % of basic pay for teachers in difficult areas, multigrade classes, or mobile teaching. |
| PERA, Clothing, Mid-year/Year-end Bonus, Cash Gift | DBM and Budget Circulars | Uniform across national government employees. |
| Step Increment | Sec. 13, Senate-House Joint Resolution 4-2009 | Each step equivalent to ~4 % of basic salary; two steps per grade. |
| Study Leave and Study Grant | Sec. 22, RA 4670 | Up to one school year with 60 % salary for post-grad studies. |
| Loyalty and Length-of-Service Awards | CSC MC 06 s. 2002 | Cash or service credit every 10, 15, 20 years. |
| Maternity/Paternity Leave, Magna Carta of Women | RA 11210 (105-day maternity); CSC MC 18 s. 2019 | Fully paid plus allowances. |
7. Code of Conduct, Neutrality, and Political Activity
- Sec. 23, RA 4670 and Sec. 55, PD 807: Teachers may not engage in partisan political activity, except to vote.
- Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards): Imposes standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and accountability; annual Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN) required.
- DepEd Order 49 s. 2022: Reinforces social-media guidelines (no promotion of commercial, political, or personal views while using official capacity).
8. Unionism and Collective Negotiations
- Art. XIII, 1987 Constitution and Executive Order 180 (1987): Government employees, including teachers, may form unions and engage in collective negotiations agreements (CNAs) on non-monetary issues; strikes remain prohibited.
- Major recognized national unions: Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), Philippine Public School Teachers Association (PPSTA).
9. Disciplinary and Performance Management Regime
- Administrative Cases: Handled under 2017 Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RRACCS).
- Performance Appraisal: RPMS-PPST (Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers) uses Self-Assessment Tool, Classroom Observation Tool, and Portfolio to rate Outstanding to Poor. Results feed into promotion and step increment.
10. Emerging Issues and Legislative Proposals (as of 2025)
| Proposal | Objective | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Salary Increase Bill (various House, Senate Bills 2022-2025) | Raise Teacher I to SG-15 | Pending in Congress; opposed by DBM on fiscal grounds. |
| Magna Carta Amendment Bill | Update 1966 law to include higher hazard pay, smaller class size, and digital-age protections | Committee level. |
| National Teachers’ Day Holiday Bill | Declare Oct 5 a non-working holiday with additional benefits | Senate passed on 3rd reading; House counterpart pending. |
| Expanded Scholarship for Teacher Up-skilling | Full government funding of graduate studies | Incorporated in DepEd’s National Learning Recovery Plan. |
11. Procedural Flowchart (Simplified) for Filling a Teacher I Vacancy
- Posting of Vacancy (10 days)
- Submission of Applications with PRC license, TOR, and CPD certificates (at least 10 days).
- Schools Division Selection Committee Ranking using DepEd Order 7 s. 2015 criteria (100-point system).
- Approval by Schools Division Superintendent (SDS).
- Issuance of Appointment (permanent or provisional); uploaded to CSC’s Online Appointment Status Information System (OASIS) within 30 days.
- Oath of Office & Entry-on-Duty; HR personnel encode in HRIS.
12. Key Takeaways
Public-school teachers occupy a uniquely protected niche in Philippine civil service. They are career, second-level, professional employees whose appointment, compensation, and discipline are governed by a tightly woven lattice of constitutional provisions, statutory mandates, CSC regulations, and DepEd issuances. The Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670) remains the cornerstone, but modern salary, performance-based, and digital-governance rules continue to reshape the landscape. Any reform—whether salary upgrading, professional development, or workload rationalization—must navigate the interlocking jurisdictions of Congress, the CSC, the Department of Budget and Management, and DepEd, always mindful of the constitutional guarantee of meritocracy, security of tenure, and the paramountcy of children’s right to quality education.