DepEd Memorandum 018, s. 2024 - Observance of Flexible Working Hours and Alternative Delivery Modes for Muslim Teaching and Nonteaching Personnel During the Holy Month of Ramadan

DepEd Memorandum 018, s. 2024

Observance of Flexible Working Hours and Alternative Delivery Modes for Muslim Teaching and Nonteaching Personnel During the Holy Month of Ramadan

 

DepEd Memorandum No. 018, s. 2024, acknowledges the religious rights of Muslim teaching and nonteaching personnel, particularly during the Holy Month of Ramadan from March 11 to April 9, 2024. The memorandum outlines regulations and flexible working arrangements to accommodate fasting observances while ensuring the continued delivery of education services. It cites existing policies and resolutions, such as modifying office hours and implementing alternative delivery modes, to support Muslim personnel during Ramadan. Flexible working hours are established from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. without a noon break, allowing for eight hours of work per day. Additionally, Muslim teachers and learners are encouraged to adopt alternative delivery modes, particularly during the last 10 days of Ramadan. The memorandum emphasizes immediate dissemination to ensure timely implementation across educational institutions.

 

 

Table of Contents:

I. Recognition of Religious Rights

II. Respect for Ramadan Observance

III. Modification of Official Hours of Work

IV. Requirements for Teaching Personnel

V. Guidelines for Nonteaching Personnel

VI. Definition of Alternative Delivery Modes

VII. Hours of Work for Muslim Personnel

VIII. Encouragement of Alternative Delivery Modes

IX. Orientation for Muslim Parents and Learners

X. Full copy of DepEd Memorandum 018, s. 2024

 

 

MAR 11 2024

 

DepEd MEMORANDUM

No. 018, s. 2024

 

OBSERVANCE OF FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS AND ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY MODES FOR MUSLIM TEACHING AND NONTEACHING PERSONNEL DURING THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN

 

 

To:      Undersecretaries

Assistant Secretaries

Minister, Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, BARMM

Bureau and Service Directors

Regional Directors

Schools Division Superintendents

Public Elementary and Secondary School Heads

All Others Concerned

 

1. The Department of Education (DepEd) recognizes the right of all teachers, learners, and nonteaching personnel to freely practice and enjoy their religious professions and worship without discrimination or preference under Section 5 of Article III (Bill of Rights) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

 

2. With the upcoming Holy Month of Ramadan from March 11 to April 9, 2024, DepEd respects the rights of all Muslim teaching and nonteaching professionals to fast during this period without jeopardizing the continued delivery of basic education services to the general public. Alternative Delivery Modes (ADMs) are also recommended for Muslim learners and teachers who are in unique circumstances observing fasting in the daytime and performing prayer at night and dawn, particularly during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

 

3. In accordance with the government's efforts to recognize and enforce Philippine Muslim holidays, the following policies and resolutions were issued to regulate office hours for Muslim teaching and nonteaching personnel in the Department during the Holy Month of Ramadan, as well as ADMs:

 

a. Paragraph 2 of Civil Service Commission (CSC) Resolution No. 81-1277 dated November 13, 1981, and Item 3 of Presidential Decree No. 322, s. 1973 modify the official hours of work to allow Muslim personnel observing the fasting for the month of Ramadan to render hours of work from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. without a noon break;

 

b. Item 2 of DepEd Order (DO) No. 16, s. 2009 (Addendum to DepEd Memorandum No. 291, s. 2008 [Guidelines for the Implementation of CSC Resolution No. 080096 on Working Hours for Public School Teachers]) requires six hours of actual classroom teaching and two hours of work within or outside school premises for teaching personnel;

 

c. Items 4 and 5 of DO 023, s. 2018 (Implementation of the Flexible Working Hours for the Nonteaching Personnel) requires completion of eight hours of work that start from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and end from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and

 

d. ADMs as defined in Annex 3 (Flexible Learning Options: ADMs and ALS) of DO 21, s. 2019 titled Policy Guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program. ADM caters to learners who are officially enrolled in the formal system but face unique circumstances that hinder them from regularly attending classes in schools.

 

4. In relation to this, all Muslim teaching and nonteaching personnel across the country who fast while working during the Holy Month of Ramadan are permitted to work under flexible hours that begin from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and end from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., without noon break, to render a total of eight hours of work per day.

 

5. Muslim teachers and learners who are fasting during the day and praying at night and dawn in quest of Laylatul Qadr(Night of the Decree) are encouraged to observe ADMs only during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

 

6. Orientation of Muslim parents and learners shall be conducted by the schools on the use of ADM during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

 

7. Immediate dissemination of this Memorandum is desired.

 

By Authority of the Secretary

 

 

(SGD) GINA O. GONONG

Undersecretary

 

 

Encl.:

            As stated

 

Reference:

DepEd Order (Nos. 21, s. 2019; 023, s. 2018; and 16, s. 2009)

DepEd Memorandum No. 013, s. 2023

 

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index

under the following subjects:

 

BUREAUS AND OFFICES

CELEBRATIONS AND FESTIVALS

EMPLOYEES

OFFICIALS

SCHOOLS

TEACHERS

WORK HOURS

 

A full copy of DepEd Memorandum No. 018, s. 2024 below: