Official Reporting Date of Teachers for SY 2024-2025

Official Reporting Date of Teachers for SY 2024-2025

• Official Reporting Date: DepEd Order No. 003, s. 2024 sets July 29, 2024, as the official first day of classes for School Year (SY) 2024-2025. This will be the official first reporting day for teachers for this school year. 

• Teachers' Vacation Period: Teachers are entitled to a two-month vacation every summer, which begins the day after the last day of classes and ends the day before the first day of reporting. For School Year 2023-2024, the teachers' vacation is from June 1 to July 28, 2024.

• Requiring Reporting on June 1-July 28: Requiring teachers to report to their stations from June 1- July 28, while they are still on their vacation, may violate their right to vacation.

However, TEACHERS MAY STILL BE REQUIRED to report and render services on days without classes in the exigency of public service. Equivalent vacation service credits, under DepEd Order No. 53, s. 2003, shall be given to teachers required to report for work.

“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.”

In such cases, requests to require the attendance of public school teachers during vacation must satisfy the following conditions:

1) A letter request is submitted to their school head to his/her respective SDO;

2) Sufficient justification is provided to establish that exigency of public service exists; and

3) The request is duly approved by the Schools Division Superintendent (SDS).

Teachers MAY also be required to report during vacation if there are activities set by the DepEd Central Office or the Regional and Schools Division Offices that need to be done during this time, and these activities are given corresponding service credits.

• Service Credits: Teachers are entitled to service credits for the days they have worked beyond their regular working hours. These service credits can be used for purposes such as being absent from work due to important reasons, or for early retirement.

READ: Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities for School Year 2023–2024]) and Start and End of School Year 2024–2025

𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁

One of the challenges faced by teachers in requesting service credits is the practice of some school heads requiring them to report for work with the promise of service credits, even without a formal written request and approval from the Schools Division Office (SDO). This is a flawed practice, as it bypasses the necessary procedures for granting service credits.

According to DepEd guidelines, service credits are granted only for work rendered beyond regular duties or hours, and only when authorized by the SDO. This authorization is typically given in response to a written request from the school head, outlining the nature of the work and the reasons why it is considered an "exigency of the service."

By requiring teachers to report without prior authorization, school heads violate DepEd guidelines and put teachers in a difficult position. If the SDO later denies the request for service credits, teachers may end up working extra hours without any compensation or recognition.

This practice may stem from a misunderstanding of what constitutes an "exigency of the service." Not all tasks or activities that fall outside of a teacher's regular duties qualify for service credits. The SDO has the authority to determine whether a particular task meets the criteria for an exigency of the service.

Therefore, teachers need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities regarding service credits. They should not be pressured into reporting for work without a formal request and approval from the SDO. If a school head insists on requiring them to report, teachers should politely but firmly request a written memo outlining the nature of the work and the reasons why it is considered an exigency of the service. This memo should also include a statement from the school head confirming that they have submitted a request for service credits to the SDO.

By following these guidelines, teachers can ensure that they are fairly compensated for any work they perform beyond their regular duties, and that their rights as employees are protected