Attached herewith is DepEd Order No. 24, s. 2020 dated September 7, 2020, titled National Adoption and Implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH).
Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH)
In line with the commitment of the Department of Education (DepEd) to support school heads so they can better perform their roles in schools, including the improvement of teacher quality, and, through this, learner achievement, the DepEd issues this Order titled National Adoption and Implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH).
The DepEd recognizes the importance of professional standards in the continuing professional development and advancement of school heads based on the principles of career-long learning. The DepEd upholds that quality student learning is contingent upon quality teachers, who are supported by quality school leaders.
The changes brought about by various national and global frameworks such as the K to 12 Basic Education Program, ASEAN Integration, globalization, and the changing character of 21st-century learners necessitate a call for the rethinking of the National Competency-Based Standards for School Heads (NCBSSH).
This policy institutionalizes the PPSSH as a public statement of professional accountability for school heads to reflect on and assess their own practice as they aspire for and pursue professional development. This policy is consistent with the implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers adopted through DepEd Order No. 42, s. 2017, the transformation of the National Educators Academy of the Philippines pursuant to DO 011, s. 2019, and the implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for Supervisors (PPSS).
The development and validation work of the PPSSH, led by the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development (BHROD) and the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), in collaboration with the Philippine National Research Center for Teacher Quality (RCTQ), has ensured that this set of standards is K to 12 aligned, internationally comparable, and responsive to the career aspirations of school heads.
The PPSSH aims to:
a. set out clear expectations of school heads along well-defined career stages of professional development from beginning to exemplary practice;
b. engage school heads to actively embrace a continuing effort to attain high levels of proficiency; and
c. provide support for professional learning and development, help identify development needs and facilitate uniform assessment of performance.
School heads or principals in private schools are encouraged to use the PPSSH.
DepEd Order No. 32, s. 2010 is hereby rescinded. All other DepEd Orders and other related issuances, rules and regulations and provisions, which are inconsistent with this Order are repealed, rescinded, or modified accordingly.
Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.
National Adoption and Implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads
Rationale
School heads, as stewards of schools, play a crucial role in ensuring an enabling and supportive environment for effective teaching and learning. Through their quality leadership and management, the Department of Education (DepEd) can develop quality teachers and “holistic learners who are steeped in values, equipped with 21st-century skills, and able to propel the country to development and progress” (DepEd Order No. 42, s. 2017). This is consonant with the DepEd’s vision of producing “Filipinos who passionately love their country and whose values and competencies enable them to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to building the nation” (DO No. 36, s. 2013).
Teacher quality is vital in raising learner achievement. However, teachers alone cannot bring about substantive changes without effective leadership. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD, 2018, p.20) states that the “quality of an education system depends on the quality of its teachers; but the quality of teachers cannot exceed the quality of the policies that shape their work environment in school and that guide their selection, recruitment and development.”
The changes brought about by various national and global frameworks such as the K to 12 Basic Education Program, ASEAN Integration, globalization, and the changing character of 21st-century learners necessitate a call for the rethinking of DO No. 32, s. 2010 titled the National Adoption and Implementation of the National Competency-Based Standards for School Heads (NCBSSH). This entails the review of the competency standards to ensure that they respond to the new demands due to the changes in the education environment.
The Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH) introduces a continuum of professional practice that supports school heads to pursue career progression amid various national and international reforms such as the K to 12 Basic Education Program and the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers, as well as ASEAN integration, globalization, and the changing character of the 21st-century learners.
Scope of the Policy
This DepEd Order directs the adoption and implementation of the PPSSH in the Department.
School heads or principals in private schools are highly encouraged to adopt the PPSSH.
Definition of Terms
For the purposes of this policy, the terms below shall be defined and understood as:
Domain
A broad conceptual sphere of school leadership practices defined by specific strands in the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads;
Indicator
Concrete, observable and measurable school head behavior/ practice covered in every strand in the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads;
Professional Standards
Professional practice expected of quality professionals to achieve at every stage of their career;
School Head
Person “responsible for administrative and instructional supervision of a school or cluster of schools” (Republic Act 9155, Section 4); and
Strand
A specific dimension of practice under a domain in the Professional Standards.
Policy Statement
The Department institutionalizes a set of professional standards for school heads, which articulates the professional practice expected of a quality school head. The PPSSH shall be the foundation of relevant human resource systems, policies, guidelines and mechanisms, including the recruitment, selection and placement, performance appraisal, rewards and recognition and talent management of school heads, and the basis for all their professional development programs. Through the PPSSH, DepEd commits to:
a. support school heads in the performance of their mandates and roles in the regions, schools divisions and/or schools, including the improvement of teacher quality, and, eventually, learner achievement;
b. promote the continuing professional development and advancement of school heads based on the principles of career-long learning; and
c. help school heads reflect on and assess their own practice as they aspire for and pursue professional development.
The PPSSH Framework
The PPSSH Framework adheres to the following principles:
a. It is learner-centered;
b. It emphasizes building and strengthening a network of stakeholders for school and people effectiveness;
c. It reflects the understanding of problems and issues at the school and the need to address them;
d. It focuses on developing high-quality instruction, developing a strong school culture, and ensuring job-embedded professional development for school personnel;
e. It reflects values and concepts in promoting school success;
f. It regards supervision as a crucial organizational behavior in school management;
g. It highlights the importance of accountability and transparency of school heads; and,
h. It is anchored on the principles of inclusivity.
The PPSSH defines professional standards that constitute a quality school head. It shall serve as a public statement of professional accountability of school heads. It sets out what school heads are expected to know, be able to do, and value as they progress in their profession. It provides a common language for high-impact leadership expected of school heads to guide individual professional reflections, as well as professional discussions among educational leaders and other stakeholders, and to inform the provision of professional learning and development for school heads.
The PPSSH Framework (Figure 1) depicts the synergy between maximizing school effectiveness and ensuring people effectiveness through a broad sphere of instructional and administrative practices stipulated in the five domains of the PPSSH:
a. Leading Strategically,
b. Managing School Operations and Resources,
c. Focusing on Teaching and Learning,
d. Developing Self and Others, and
e. Building Connections.
The five domains constitute a broad conceptual sphere of leadership practices for all school heads. The placement of learners at the center of the framework emphasizes the important role of school heads for the improvement of learner achievement.
Procedure
The Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development (BHROD) shall review and ensure that relevant human resource systems, policies, guidelines, and processes, including the selection, hiring, performance appraisal and promotion and talent management of school heads are anchored on the professional standards as defined in the PPSSH.
The National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) shall review and ensure that the design of all professional development interventions and programs for school heads, whether developed and implemented by internal or external stakeholders, are anchored on the professional standards.
The BHROD and NEAP shall promote and ensure wide dissemination of the professional standards in DepEd through the conduct of orientations and capability-building activities in all governance levels.
The Regional Offices through the NEAP in the Regions shall facilitate and organize the conduct of orientations and capability-building activities on PPSSH in all the schools divisions within their jurisdictions. In addition, they shall supervise, monitor and evaluate the Schools Division Offices as they cascade the PPSSH within their respective jurisdictions.
Reporting of the conduct of orientations and capability-building activities on the PPSSH and other related activities shall be done by the Regional Offices to the Office of the Secretary through the BHROD and NEAP.
Monitoring and Evaluation
The BHROD shall monitor and evaluate the achievement of the professional standards among the school heads through the adoption and implementation of the PPSSH in human resource systems, policies, guidelines, and mechanisms.
The NEAP shall monitor and evaluate the achievement of professional standards through the implementation of all professional development interventions and programs for school heads, whether developed and implemented by internal or external stakeholders.
Ultimately, the BHROD and NEAP shall ensure that the school heads in the Department embody the professional standards as defined in the PPSSH.
Effectivity
This DepEd Order shall take effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation, and registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR) at the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City.
Transitory Provisions
Notwithstanding the issuance of this DepEd Order, existing policies shall govern the Department’s human resource systems, mechanisms, rules and regulations until implementing guidelines anchored on the PPSSH are issued.
DepEd Order No. 24, s. 2020
DO_s2020_024-PPSSHREAD: Modified Qualification Standards for the Positions of Head Teachers and Principals
