DepEd to compensate public school teachers for overtime work

Abdiel Franz Bernales

Public school teachers will soon be compensated for work rendered beyond their regular six-hour teaching load or overtime work under a new policy issued by the Department of Education (DepEd).

This is anchored on Order No. 26, series of 2025, issued by the DepEd, which lays down the guidelines on the payment of overtime services, a move meant to recognize and reward the additional hours teachers spend in classrooms and schools, according to a statement on September 10.

The order will guide all DepEd offices and schools, including heads of offices, human resource management officers, and teachers, on how to implement the overtime pay.

RA 4670, or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, mandates the DepEd to ensure proper
implementation of the law’s provisions through the development of relevant guidelines and preparation of a budget for the prescribed benefit.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara stated the policy reflects “DepEd’s commitment to recognize teachers’ sacrifices” by ensuring fair compensation for their extended work hours.

“It is important that we provide fair compensation to our teachers — especially when they devote additional hours to our schools. This policy is our way of ensuring that their extra efforts are properly recognized,” Angara said.

Under the new policy, teachers will receive 125 percent of their hourly rate for overtime on regular workdays, and 150 percent for services rendered on weekends, holidays, and special non-working days.

It added that, during weekdays, at least two hours of overtime would be granted monetary compensation. If the work lasts less than two hours, it will be converted into vacation service credits (VSC) instead. For weekends, holidays, and special days, up to four hours of overtime will be paid in cash. Excess hours will be credited as VSC.

The policy covers all full-time DepEd-employed teachers, including those under the Alternative Learning System (ALS), whether permanent, substitute, or provisional.

But overtime must be pre-approved by school heads or authorized officials and should be rendered only when strictly necessary, according to the agency.

By institutionalizing the grant of overtime pay, DepEd said it is committed to upholding the welfare and dignity of teachers, while promoting accountability, transparency, and alignment with existing government compensation policies.