Philippines DepEd faces zero budget for new teacher hires in 2027

The Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) faces significant funding gaps in its proposed 2027 budget, including zero allocations for hiring new teachers and the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program.

During a House Committee on Appropriations hearing, Education Secretary Sonny Angara reported a shortage of approximately 14,274 teachers, which would require P4.29 billion to resolve. While the department successfully hired 32,000 teachers in 2026, the current 2027 proposal lacks funds for new Teacher I positions. However, Angara noted that P12.09 billion is earmarked for the Expanded Career Progression System to support the promotion of roughly 135,000 personnel.

Additionally, the ARAL Program, designed to assist students struggling in reading, mathematics, and science, received no allotment in the 2027 National Expenditure Program. DepEd is requesting P15.98 billion to sustain the program, which was allocated P8.9 billion in 2026. The department’s total proposed budget for 2027 is approximately P975.96 billion, which includes requests for school counselors, project development officers, and school principals.