Teachers may be required to work during Yule break

The Department of Education has clarified that elementary and secondary public school teachers may enjoy the early holiday vacation, but if needed, they may still be required to report to their schools for work.

In a memorandum addressed to regional directors and school division superintendents signed by Undersecretary Jesus R. Mateo, teachers may start their Christmas vacation on Dec. 16.

However, they may still be required to be on-duty from Dec. 16 to 22 in the “exigency of public service.”

Exigency of public service refers to “a situation where service is urgently needed, and where any delay in its execution and delivery will adversely affect the outcome of the service to clients and its effective and efficient delivery.”

If ever such situation arises, the memorandum provides that requests for teachers to report during the break must follow the following conditions: “A letter-request is submitted by the school head to his/her respective Schools Division Office; sufficient justification is provided to establish that exigency of public service exists; and the request is duly approved by the Schools Division Superintendent.”

DepEd said that equivalent vacation service credits shall be given to teachers required to report during the holiday break in accordance to DepEd Order No. 53, Series of 2003.

DepEd issued an order on Nov. 28 amending the start of the Christmas break from Dec. 22 to Dec. 15 to enable students to spend more time with their families this Christmas.

DepEd encouraged private schools to adopt the revised school calendar.

However, it said that private schools still have to follow the minimum number of class days and observe the provisions under Republic Act 7797 or the “Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from Two-Hundred to Not More than Two-Hundred and Twenty Class Days.” (Jhon Aldrin Casinas)