DepEd Pushes for 1:1 Principal-to-School Policy to Strengthen Educational Leadership

On Friday, January 31, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced its plan to enforce a 1:1 principal-to-school policy, aligning with the administration’s commitment to enhancing the education sector.

In a significant move to enhance educational leadership, the Department of Education (DepEd) is advocating for a 1:1 principal-to-school policy, aiming to assign a dedicated principal to each public school nationwide. This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s commitment to strengthening the education sector.

As of January 2025, approximately 25,000 public schools operate without appointed principals. To address this gap, DepEd plans to prioritize the promotion and reclassification of qualified Head Teachers and Teachers-in-Charge into formal principal positions.

"We will establish and assign School Principal positions to schools that currently lack them," said DepEd Education Secretary Sonny Angara in a statement.

Angara pointed out that the existing DepEd policy does not guarantee the appointment of a school head for every school. "Babaguhin natin ito. Basta may school, may principal dapat," he emphasized.

Additionally, DepEd intends to evaluate the distribution of qualified principals across different regions to resolve the shortage of school leaders in public schools nationwide.