We are living in a troubled world. Crisis after crisis beset our country. I remember the words of an English American writer, inventor and journalist Thomas Paine, “these are the times that try men’s souls.” We see, read and hear of corruption, killings, robberies, bombings, hijackings and natural calamities like floods caused by typhoons, series of earthquakes and even drug addiction, prostitution and other acts of immorality. These are some realities we could not deny.

Anyways, these are only challenges to us as educators that test our human intelligence. I strongly believe that we can overcome them if we possess the strength of will and godly character.

It is just timely that the Department of Education takes the lead of introducing programs and projects like the ladderized, non-formal education program for the elementary and secondary drop-outs through Alternative Learning System; Open High Schools, and the latest is the Abot-Alam program that strategizes to locate the 15-35 year-old individuals and who have not completed basic and/or higher education or who are unemployed. This will mobilize and harmonize educational programs which will address the out-of-school youth’s needs and aspirations.

Educating the school children being our primary concern as educators has a tremendous relevance towards the happenings in our country today. We need to continuously inculcate moral values into the young minds of our youth. We need to equip them with useful knowledge, information and other basic literacy skills for their active involvement in their respective communities. We need to teach them usable livelihood skills for self-reliance which the ALS could provide. They should be taught not only leadership skills but also to become a law abiding citizens. They should be educated not only to earn an honest living but also how to live righteously with their fellowmen. Indeed, Education is the only weapon to survive the crises we experience in our daily undertaking. This will enable us to pave the way for a new horizon. This will help us overcome obstacles we encounter along the way.

It is a fundamentally held belief among Filipinos that education is a ticket out of poverty and a means of empowerment. In our culture, the lack of education is seen as a sure way to failure. This is the reason why responsible parents want to see their children complete their education and every diligent student feels the pressure to succeed in school even if the household budget needed for higher education is out of reach for the majority (Flores, 2014). Thus, giving importance to education is a priority.

From now on, education standard will be more improved as the government and implementers of our educational system work hand-in-hand for the K to 12 curriculum. Learning competencies has been designed to enable one to learn the skills and to imbibe positive human values that will help one grow into an articulate, socially committed and productive Filipino citizen. It does not only tend to rely on the theories, rather on practical things which will be useful once a student leaves the school and gets employment.

The performance of the school children reflects the kind of educators they have and speaks the degree of importance given to education of its clienteles. Let us all work hard to nurture the school children with passion in the realization of their dreams and aspirations in life. Education of today should be geared towards global competence and competitiveness.

By: Jesus V. Muring, Ed. D.

      ESP II, Managok Elementary School

      Malaybalay City East District

Officers and employees in the public service except those covered by special laws are mandated under the law to render at least eight (8) hours of work daily for five (5) days in a week or a total of forty (40) hours a week, exclusive of time for lunch.  As a general rule, such hours shall be from eight o’clock in the morning to twelve o’clock noon and from one o’clock to five o’clock in the afternoon daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. Flexible working hours may be allowed subject to the discretion of the head of office provided that the required working hours shall not be reduced. The head of agency has the duty to require all officers and employees under him to strictly observe the prescribed office hours.

In an office, it’s quite evident that there are employees who report for work late in the morning or past 1 o’clock in the afternoon. At times, others leave from work earlier than the prescribed eight-hour work schedule in a given working day.  They have all the reasons in the world when asked why they were late or why they had to take undertime.  There is a need to limit the number of times an employee is allowed to be tardy, absent or go on undertime because of its inimical effect to public service.  Hence, let us revisit the policies on Undertime, Tardiness and Half Day Absence and identify the corresponding sanctions/penalties for each offense which will surely prompt employees to render work within the prescribed period of time.

The CSC issued Memorandum Circular No. 16, s. 2010 promulgating the guidelines on Undertime which mentions that Undertime is not classified as tardiness. It states that any officer or employee who incurs undertime, regardless of the number of minutes/ hours, ten (10) times a month or at least two months in a semester or at least two (2) consecutive months during the year shall be liable for a Simple Misconduct and/ or Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, as the case maybe.

Under CSC MC 23, s. 1998, Tardiness refers to the failure of an employee to report for work or resume for work on time. Any official or employee shall be considered habitually tardy if he/ she incurs tardiness regardless of minutes per day, ten times a month for Two (2) consecutive months or Two (2) months in a semester during the year. He is subject to disciplinary action: 1st offense is reprimand, 2nd offense is suspension for 1 day to 30 days and 3rd offense is DISMISSAL.

CSC MC No. 17, s. 2010 provides guidelines on HalfDayAbsence with conditions that any officer oremployee who is absent in the morning is considered to be tardy and is subject to the provision on Habitual Tardiness and any officer or employee who is absent in the afternoon is considered to have incurred undertime, subject to the provision on Undertime.

An employee who has incurred UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCES, exceeding the allowable 2.5 days monthly leave credit under the Leave Law for at least three (3) months in a semester or at least three (3) consecutive months during the year shall be considered habitually absent.  Those who incur habitual absence is subject six (6) months and one (1) day to one (1) year suspension on the first offense and Dismissal on the second offense.

There shall be no off-setting of tardiness or absences by working for an equivalent number of minutes or hours by which an officer or employee has been tardy or absent, beyond the regular working hours of the employees concerned.

-By: Florabelle R. Porras

       Records Officer – Designate

What’s so special about them?

Legal Basis: CSC Mc 41, s. 1998;CSC MC 6, s. 1999)

Everybody has heard about Special Leave Privileges that employees in the government service get to enjoy.  However, there area few who fail to take advantage of such kind of privilege since they do not know the conditions it covers.  Here are the specifics in the granting of Special Leave Privileges. 

In addition to the vacation, sick, maternity and paternity leave, officials and employees with or without existing Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA), except teachers and those covered by special leave laws, are granted special leave privileges subject to the following conditions:

• Personal milestones such as birthdays/wedding/wedding anniversary celebrations and other similar milestones, including death anniversaries.
• Parental obligations such as attendance in programs, PTA meetings, graduations, first communion; medical needs, among others, where a child of the government employee is involved.
• Filial obligations to cover the employee’s moral obligation toward his parents and siblings for their medical and social needs.
• Domestic emergencies such as sudden urgent repairs needed at home, sudden absence of a “yaya” or maid, and the like.
• Personal transactions to cover the entire range of transactions an individual does with government and private offices such as paying taxes, court appearances, arranging a housing loan, etc.
• Calamity, accident hospitalization leave pertain to force majeure events that affect the life, limb, and property of the employee or his immediate family.Immediate family refers to spouse, children, parents, unmarried brothers and sisters or any relative living under the same roof or dependent upon the employee for support.

CSC Memorandum Circular No. 6, s. 1999 provides the Expanded Conditions which cites that an employee can still avail of his birthday or wedding anniversary leave if such occasion falls on either a Saturday,Sunday or Holiday, either before or after the occasion. Employees applying for special privilege leaves shall no longer be required to present proof that they are entitled to avail of such leaves.  An employee can avail of one special privilege leave for three (3) days or a combination of any of the leaves for maximum of three (3) days in a given year. Special leave privileges are non-cumulative which means that if not enjoyed, it cannot be carried over to the succeeding year.  Likewise, it is non-commutable or non-convertible to cash.

-By: Florabelle R. Porras

       Records Officer – Designate

Government employees are expected to perform their duties and responsibilities effectively and efficiently.  The government in return, acknowledges hard work and grants benefits such as leave privileges.  The Omnibus Rules on Leave consolidates & updates all laws & administrative issuances relative to leave Administration in government sector. Non-Teaching personnel in DepEd are entitled to 15 days vacation and 15 days sick leave annually.  On the other hand, Teachers engaged in actual classroom teaching are under Teacher’s Leave basis.  The subsequent paragraphs will expound everything you should know about Teacher’s Leave.

Who is a Teacher? The term “teacher” refers to teachers who do not have to report for classes during Christmas and long summer vacation and still be entitled to their regular compensation as defined under DepEd Order No. 53, s. 2003.

On Teacher’s Leave. Teachers are not entitled to the usual vacation and sick leave credits but to Proportional Vacation Pay (PVP).  The total PVP that shall be earned by teachers shall be based by the computation to be provided by DepEd every school year. A teacher who has rendered continuous service in a school year without incurring absences without pay of not more than 1½ days is entitled to the total PVP earned from the number of summer and Christmas vacation days as determined by the DepEd.(sec. 6 of CSC MC No. 41, s. 1998 as amended by CSC MC No. 9, s. 2012)

Vacation Service Credits. Sec. 9, MC 41,s.1998 defines Vacation Service Credits as the leave credits earned for services rendered on activities, during summer or Christmas vacation, as authorized by proper authority.  These vacation service credits are used to offset absences of a teacher due to illness or to offset proportional deduction in vacation salary due to absences for personal reasons or late appointment.

When funds are not available for the grant of additional compensation or overtime pay, VACATION SERVICE CREDITS may be granted for services rendered beyond the required working hours during school days, which is exclusive of the 15 days limitation under DepEd Order No. 53, s. 2003.

Request for Service Credits accompanied by Accomplishment Report and Daily Time Record (DTR) shall be accomplished and submitted after completion of vacation service.  Vacation Service Credit shall not be granted for services rendered without previous authority.

Teachers who are designated to perform non-teaching functions and who render the same hours of service as other employees shall be entitled to vacation and sick leave as provided for under CSC MC No. 41, s. 1998.

School/District Property Custodians.  Teachers designated on part-time basis as Property Custodians and who are required to render services during the summer vacation to conduct property inventory after the closing and before the opening of classes shall likewise be granted Vacation Service Credits of not more than 15 days, also exclusive of the 15 days limitation.

ALS Mobile Teachers. DepEd Order No. 64, s. 2011 provides Equal Opportunities and Standard Implementation of DepEd Policies for the ALS Implementors.  The ALS Teacher, better known as Mobile Teacher, and District ALS Coordinator (DALSC) follows a flexible teaching schedule without summer vacation and different teaching hours to meet the learning needs of the ALS learners, the Mobile Teacher/DALSC is entitled to earn leave credits and avail of the privilege of monetization of leave credits.

Other Leave Benefits. Other Leave benefits of teachers such as Study Leave and Indefinite Sick Leave are covered by Section 24 and 25 of RA 4670 (Magna Carta for Public School Teachers).

Study Leave of not exceeding one (1) school year may be granted to teachers who have rendered at least seven (7) years in service. A teacher shall be entitled to at least 65% of his monthly salary provided he takes regular study load & passes at least 75% of the courses.  Study leave of more than one (1) year shall be permitted by the DepEd Secretary but without compensation.

Indefinite Leave is granted to Teachers when the nature of the illness demands a long treatment that will exceed one year at the least.  A teacher applying for indefinite sick leave of absence should submit a Medical Certificate (CS Form 41) and CS Form 6 (Application for Leave) stating the approximate maximum number of days he expects to be on leave, subject to change as the government physician may recommend.

-By: Florabelle R. Porras

       Records Officer – Designate

Better change, quality, well-trained, leading, credible, competent – these are few of the words that best describe the K+12 Basic Education Program. It has been implemented and everyone is expecting for a better-trained and competent citizens of the country.

The Department of Education implements the K +12  program. This program of study gave birth to the third curriculum being used in the secondary education at present. The K +12 adds additional two years to prepare students for college. DepEd aims to be at par with other Asian countries that have 12 years education cycle. Teachers attended trainings about the new curriculum and new lessons.Ref: DepEd # 31 s. 2012

This program gives advantage to Grades 11 and 12 having an option whether to push through academics, to go to sports if they are inclined or to be equipped with skills that the job market needs. A plan to shorten the 4 year cycle in college into 3 year gives way to senior high to learn the basics.

Before the program was implemented, Philippines is one of the few countries that has 10 years of basic education system (6 years elementary and 4 years in secondary). With this short period of time, Filipinos were deemed to be incompetent towards the growing demand and integrated global economy. The countries like Japan and Korea are two of the Asian countries that provide best results in terms of education.

However, this program received a lot of criticisms especially from the parents and a few from the students – well, that is inevitable! Feedback from parents of affected and will-be affected parents and guardians were heard during the General Assembly of the school’s Parents and Teachers Association. A mixed reaction was obviously seen and heard. Some said that this might only be an experimentation stage that might possibly be changed with the election of another President. Situations of universities and colleges would be undertaking during the two year transition period were also questioned. On the other side, comments of additional learning on the part of the students with the implementation of the K+12 were also highlighted.

It is true that this would be “somehow costly” dubbed by the parents since the years of learning are extended. Some say that the number of years increased but the quality of education is just the same – which seems “useless” then. Students may be tired of studying, thinking that it would be a long journey for them before they get their jobs. Negative or positive assumptions, this program provides a QUALITY that students need.

Bottom line is, we need to support this program rather than criticize it. It is a reality that some are contented and many are not. Any curriculum is worth the try. If implemented thoroughly and completely. Albert Einstein once uttered that “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school”.

By: Rufelia J. Limbengco

      Administrative Officer III / Cashier II