THE Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), on Monday, July 20, 2026, called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to provide clarification on the situation of Special Needs Education (SNEd) teachers under the Expanded Career Progression Program, warning that ambiguities in the implementation may be limiting opportunities for specialization and advancement within the profession.
During the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture’s oversight hearing on the implementation of the Inclusive Education Act (RA 11650), EDCOM 2 presented findings showing that while SNEd positions have been retitled under the ECP, from SPED Teacher I-V to Teacher IV-VII (SNET I-IV) and Master Teacher I (SNET V), it remains unclear on the ground whether qualification standards for these positions have likewise been updated or retained.
“What teachers are asking is whether the qualification standards changed after the retitling of SNEd positions. On the ground, it is still unclear which standards should be followed. For example, for Teacher IV (SNEd Teacher I), some are requiring 3 years of teaching experience and 16 hours of training, while others are not”. The same questions are being raised for Master Teacher I (SNET V). Under previous DepEd guidelines, SNED teachers require a minimum of 3 years teaching experience to be promoted to SNET V, however if using the new guidelines for ECP, this would increase the requirement to a minimum of 5 years. We thus inquire whether it is the intention of DepEd to change the requirements, or if forthcoming guidelines are to be expected specific for SNED teachers,” EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee said.
These implementation gaps come as hundreds of SNEd teaching positions remain unfilled nationwide. As of DepEd’s June 2025 submission to EDCOM, 787 SNEd teaching positions remain vacant, including 692 vacancies at the Teacher IV (SNET I) level, the entry-level position under the Expanded Career Progression System.
Based on these findings, EDCOM 2 sought clarification from DepEd on whether the Expanded Career Progression System has translated into meaningful career advancement for SNEd teachers or if challenges in implementation preclude them from benefitting. The Commission inquired further how SNEd teacher items are now being distributed across divisions in light of DepEd’s implementation of “mainstreaming”, and how the roles of receiving teachers differ from those of SNEd specialists.
Responding to EDCOM 2’s findings, DepEd clarified that, in the interim, incumbent SNEd teachers are being allowed to undergo retitling and reclassification using the regular teacher qualification standards while the qualification standards for newly created SNEd positions remain pending approval.
“For the incumbent, Mr. Chair, retitling and reclassification, we are allowing them to be reclassified using the regular teacher qualification standards in the interim,” said DepEd Director Dexter Pante.
Dir. Pante added that around 100 incumbent SNEd teachers have already been reclassified under the Expanded Career Progression System. He also said that around 600 new SNEd teaching positions are being created for 2026, but the qualification standards for these newly created positions are still awaiting approval by the Civil Service Commission following consultations with the CSC and the Department of Budget and Management.
However, EDCOM 2 noted that while existing teachers are being “accommodated” under interim arrangements, unresolved qualification standards may unintentionally prevent many SNED teachers from benefiting from the Expanded Career Progression System. “The general guidelines are actually stricter than what is contextualized to SNED teachers. Kung baga sa dati, three years of teaching experience. Ngayon sa general guidelines, ang hinihingi: five years teaching experience. So actually, instead of enabling, it has the effect of precluding them from the expanded career progression to benefit from it because it is requiring much higher requirements than what used to be required of them.”
Acknowledging the concern, the Department said that they would issue additional guidance to clarify how the new qualification standards should apply to SNED teachers while awaiting CSC approval.
EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Rep. Roman Romulo, stressed that the Expanded Career Progression System should not inadvertently disadvantage the very teachers it aims to support.
“Ang problema ngayon, dumadami ang nagpapa-assess at dumadami rin ang pumapasok sa ating mga SNED programs. Wala pa tayong bagong SNED teachers because the qualification standards have not yet been approved. Na-o-overwork na ang ating current SNED teachers. It’s an emergency, so we need an update on the qualification standards and the items,” said Romulo
DepEd committed to issue clarificatory guidance on the qualification standards for SNEd teachers and to provide the Committee with an update on the status of the pending qualification standards for newly created positions. Director Dexter Pante also said the Department would continue following up with the Civil Service Commission on the approval process.
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