Manila: An additional 20,000 new teaching positions ready for deployment serve as a 'considerable' boost to the country's public education system, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DepEd confirmed that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved all requested positions in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to accelerate the deployment of teaching positions. This initiative aims to further improve the quality of education in the country.

To expedite the nationwide deployment, the DBM is issuing Notices of Organization, Staffing, and Classification Action (NOSCAs) directly to the Schools Division Offices (SDOs) for all positions spanning from Kinder to Senior High School (SHS).

Out of the 20,000 teaching positions, the highest number was allocated in Calabarzon with 2,655 items, based on updated school directories, enrollment data, and validated teacher gaps. Central Luzon follows with 2,152 positions, and Central Visayas with 1,774 items.

As of now, the DepEd's national filling rate for vacant positions stands at 96.03 percent, an increase from 94.78 percent in 2022. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the importance of filling each vacant position, highlighting that every unfilled role represents a missed opportunity for children. The department is focused on not only speeding up the hiring process but also ensuring a more efficient and strategic deployment of teachers.