Following a Department of Education (DepEd) report that more than half of public schools lack qualified principals, Senator Win Gatchalian pressed the urgency of updating existing policies to address the gap. 

Data presented during a hearing of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) revealed that only 20,718 of 45,918 public schools nationwide have filled principal positions. The remaining 24,480 only have Teachers-In-Charge who often need more training and support. 

Based on 1997 staffing parameters, principals are assigned to elementary schools with nine teachers and secondary schools with six teachers. According to Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral, the DepEd is already finalizing the new standards with the help of EDCOM to ensure that each public school has a principal. 

“Malaki ang papel na ginagampanan ng mga mahuhusay na punong-guro upang paghusayin ang performance ng ating mga guro at mga mag-aaral. Mahalagang matugunan natin ang kakulangan ng mga punong-guro sa ating mga paaralan, lalo na’t makakaapekto ito sa pagsisikap nating iangat ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa,” said Gatchalian, EDCOM II Co-Chairperson and Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

Gatchalian also called on the National Educators Academy of the Philippines, DepEd’s professional development arm, to support principals with training programs, which will help them perform their duties more effectively. 

The lawmaker also raised the need to revisit a 1999 rotation policy, which requires principals to be transferred to other schools after three to five years. Citing experiences from public schools in Valenzuela, Gatchalian said that science schools, for example, need math- and science-oriented principlas.