By: Sophia Pacheco
Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency File Photo
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, signed into law the measure institutionalizing the Career Progression System for public school teachers and school leaders to provide merit-based promotion, competence, and professional growth.
The new law, Republic Act (RA) No. 12288, mandates a competency-based promotion system in the public school system, especially for elementary and secondary teachers.
It establishes a defined path from Teacher I up to Master Teacher I, with expanded levels including new titles which are Teacher IV through VII, Master Teacher V and VI, and School Principal V.
Meanwhile, promotions will be non-hierarchical and will depend on each teacher’s fitness and competence in relation to standards set by professional bodies, rather than just time in service or seniority.
"The positions from Teacher I to Master Teacher I shall form the bases of the expanded career progression system. Promotions within the base positions shall be non-hierarchical, and shall be based on the principles of merit, fitness, and competence based on the qualifications and the professional standards," the law stated.
"In recognition of prior learning and experience in the teaching profession, entry to any position within the base of the expanded career progression system shall be allowed: Provided, That the qualification standards approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) are met and the indicators of the career stages of the professional standards are achieved as affirmed by the Teacher Education Council (TEC)," the law also stated.
The CSC, the Department of Education (DepEd), TEC, and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) are tasked to harmonize the qualification standards.
Furthermore, the law requires the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to incorporate the new teaching positions into the official index of occupations, salary grades, and groups.
The law also requires teachers and school leaders who fail the Standards-Based Assessment twice in a row to undergo a free support program.