MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) revealed on Friday, September 2, that it had hired over 3,900 teachers from higher education institutions (HEIs) to teach in the K to 12’s senior high school program. 

During the department’s budget hearing at the House of Representatives, Education Secretary Leonor Briones revealed the “good news” that the “anticipated massive displacement of teachers…did not occur.”

DepEd has hired a total of 3,950 teachers from HEIs, while 928 availed themselves of the department’s “green lane” or priority lane.

The green lane seeks to prioritize and fast-track the hiring of displaced personnel from the higher education sector. 

Briones reported to lawmakers that a total of 36,461 items were created for senior high school.

The education department rolled out its Grade 11 nationwide last June. This resulted to a drop in college enrollment that is expected to last until school year 2020-2021.

Because of this, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) estimated that, based on a worst-case scenario across 5 years, 13,274 teaching staff and 10,464 non-teaching staff would be displaced because of senior high school.

CHED reported during its budget hearing last Wednesday, August 31, that a total of 3,229 college workers have been displaced due to the K to 12 program.

On Friday, Briones also reported there are now 1,517,610 senior high school enrollees.

“We were anticipating one-half of the Grade 10 completers. If you reach 700,000, you have reached goals already,” she explained.

But not only has the enrollment exceeded the department’s expectations, senior high school has also attracted 54,262 “balik-aral” students or returnees.

Below is the breakdown of the enrollment:

• 1,460,970 – Grade 10 completers (out of total 1,483,388)
• 54,262 – “Balik-aral” students
• 2,378 – Accreditation and Equivalency Test passers

DepEd’s proposed 2017 budget amounts to P566.24 billion – a huge increase from the approved 2016 budget of P431.11 billion. (READ: DepEd hopes to eliminate backlogs in procurement)

“The increase for the 2017 [budget] is the result of the steady increase in legislative support for needs of DepEd due to basic education reforms,” Briones said on Friday. – Rappler.com