No More Waiting in Line: DepEd Launches Expanded Career Progression System for Teachers

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Makati City, September 11, 2025 — The chalk dust of stagnation is finally being wiped clean. In time for the National Teachers’ Month celebration, the Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out a transformative reform that promises to rewrite the professional journey of Filipino educators. The Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System, institutionalized through DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2025, now gives teachers a clearer, fairer, and competency-based path to advancement—without the long wait for vacant posts that has crippled the old system for decades.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that this initiative directly addresses the long-standing frustrations of teachers who, despite their dedication and excellence, often found their careers stalled by a rigid vacancy-dependent promotion system.

“Matagal nang hinaing ng ating mga guro ang limitadong pagkakataon para umangat. Ngayon, hindi na kailangang maghintay ng bakanteng posisyon. Kapag natugunan ang pamantayan at naipakita ang husay, maaari nang umusad sa karera,” Angara declared.

A New Path Forward

The ECP system introduces new teaching positions (Teacher IV to VII and Master Teacher V), expanding the ladder of growth beyond the previously capped structure. More significantly, teachers may now pursue two distinct tracks:

Classroom Teaching Track, for those committed to honing instructional quality and staying in front of learners.

School Administration Track, for those preparing to step into leadership and management roles.

Under this reclassification model, promotion is no longer a race for limited slots. Once teachers meet the prescribed qualifications and demonstrate competencies under the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST) or School Heads (PPSSH), they can advance—turning career development into a matter of merit, not chance.

Correcting a Broken System

For years, teachers endured a bottleneck: regardless of their performance, they had to wait for others to vacate positions before advancing. This created a cycle where motivation waned and talents were underutilized. The ECP ends this vicious waiting game.

“Ang Expanded Career Progression System ay handog ng pamahalaan upang suklian ang kanilang sipag at sakripisyo sa pamamagitan ng mas malinaw na landas para sa kanilang career sa pagtuturo,” Angara said, adding that better morale among teachers will directly translate into improved quality of education for students.

Transitioning to a New Era

The system will undergo a three-year transition period (February 25, 2025 – February 24, 2028). Key adjustments include:

Vacant Head Teacher and Assistant Principal posts will be converted into Teacher I items after 90 days of the Order’s issuance.

Unfilled Teacher I–III and Master Teacher I–IV positions must be filled within a year from the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Incumbent Head Teachers and Assistant Principals may either keep their current titles or be retitled into equivalent positions without loss of salary or benefits.

They will also be “on-stream candidates” for promotion to School Principal positions without needing to start from Master Teacher I.

This transition ensures that no current educator is left behind while allowing for a smoother integration into the new system.

Empowering Teachers Beyond Promotion

Promotion, however, is just one part of the reform. Recognizing that career growth must be paired with continuous learning, DepEd—through the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP)—will ramp up training programs tailored to teachers, head teachers, and assistant principals eyeing leadership roles.

Priority will be given to teachers nearing retirement within five years, granting them overdue recognition and opportunities before they exit service.

“Kasabay ng bagong career progression, tinutukan din natin ang professional development ng guro—mula sa mas malinaw na job descriptions hanggang sa mas madaling access sa training at mentorship. Lahat ng ito ay bahagi ng mas malawak na reporma para gawing mas kaaya-aya ang propesyon sa ating kaguruan,” Angara explained.

A Profession Reborn

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has repeatedly called for strengthened support for the teaching profession, seeing educators as the backbone of national progress. The operationalization of the ECP is one of the strongest signals yet that government is listening.

With this reform, Filipino teachers will no longer have to endure the slow crawl of a system that often failed to reward merit. Instead, they can finally envision a future where their hard work, dedication, and competence are matched with timely recognition and advancement.

In the words of many teachers who have long awaited this moment: at last, the future is no longer on hold.

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