The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the second batch of teaching positions to complete the 20,000 new teaching items for 2025.

In a news release Monday, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman confirmed the approval of 4,000 new Teacher I (Salary Grade 11) positions, following the earlier approval of 16,000 positions last month.

“Sa ngayon, kumpleto na po at buo na ‘yung 20,000 na request po sa atin ng DepEd for 2025 (So now, the 20,000 requested items by DepEd for 2025 are complete),” Pangandaman said as quoted in the DBM news release.

The new positions are allocated as follows: 1,658 for kindergarten and elementary, 391 for junior high school, and 1,951 for senior high school, for deployment in school year 2025-2026.

“Parte pa rin po ito ng hangarin ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na madagdagan ang ating mga guro at matutukan nang mabuti ang mga estudyante. Ang sabi po n’ya, tulung-tulong lahat ng ahensya lalo na sa pagbubukas muli ng mga klase sa bansa. So, that’s what we’re doing (This is still part of President Bongbong Marcos’ goal to increase the number of teachers and ensure better attention to students. He said all agencies must help, especially with the reopening of classes nationwide),” Pangandaman said.

The funding for the new positions will be sourced from the Department of Education’s Built-in Appropriations under the FY 2025 General Appropriations Act, specifically under the “New School Personnel Positions” program, according to the DBM.

The DBM earlier approved 10,000 non-teaching positions for DepEd in April 2025 to reduce administrative workload for teachers and allow them to focus more on instruction.

The government aims to strengthen basic education by boosting the teacher workforce, especially in anticipation of full face-to-face classes and learning recovery efforts. (PNA)