TDC is demanding immediate action to prioritize the thousands of qualified NQESH passers who have been waiting for years to be assigned to their posts. Photo by The EdLines.
Thousands of qualified candidates for principal positions in Philippine public schools are being left in limbo due to severe delays in the appointment process, with nearly 6,000 teachers who passed the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH) in 2021 and 2023 still awaiting formal assignments.
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) is sounding the alarm over the mounting setback, calling out the Department of Education (DepEd) for failing to fill leadership vacancies in over half of the country’s public schools.
TDC Chairperson Benjo Basas condemned the ongoing delays, saying that the situation negatively impacts the quality of education students receive.
“These candidates have proven they are ready to lead, yet the bureaucracy continues to stall their appointments. This is unacceptable and is leaving schools without qualified leadership when they need it most,” Basas said.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has acknowledged that over half of the nation’s 45,918 public schools currently lack qualified principals. Only 20,718 schools have principals who meet DepEd’s standards for school leadership.
The leadership vacuum is causing chaos in schools, with many operating without a permanent principal or under the supervision of teachers-in-charge who are often overwhelmed with administrative duties.
“A school without strong leadership is a school struggling to provide a meaningful education,” he said.
To address the backlog, TDC is demanding immediate action from DepEd to expedite the appointment process and prioritize the thousands of qualified NQESH passers who have been waiting for years to be assigned to their posts.
Basas is also calling for a major review of the current policies under the NQESH, which he says restricts eligibility for aspiring principals. He urged DepEd to expand the pool to include teachers with five to ten years of classroom experience, arguing that they bring valuable leadership potential.
Basas also proposed a new training program for NQESH passers that would provide school management courses, hands-on experience, and mentorship. The program would ensure that candidates are not only qualified but fully prepared to take on the responsibilities of managing schools effectively.
Basas said these policy changes could help recognize and support teachers with strong skills and leadership potential, adding that the plan supports DepEd and lawmakers’ efforts to create a clear career path for public school teachers.
