To: Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Superintendents
Presidents, State Colleges and Universities

1. Republic Act No. 6655, otherwise known as the “Free Public Secondary Education Law” has institutionalized EO No. 189 which nationalizes the salaries of all teachers in all secondary schools regardless of status and character of establishment. As a result, all secondary schools whether barangay or locally funded or part of state colleges and universities, are now under the general classification of a high school.
2. One of the concerns that the DECS is facing in the implementation of EO 189 is its capability to absorb into the system high schools under the state colleges and universities. The salary scale of high school teachers of SUCs who are holding faculty ranks according to NOC 33 is higher than that of their counterpart in the public schools under the DECS. Bringing these teachers under the DECS therefore would be a problem not only because the Department is not in a position as yet to absorb the salaries but also because it would result in disparity in the salaries of these two groups of teachers.
3. In view of the foregoing and until such time that the Department will be able to resolve some of the issues, problems and concerns in connection with the implementation of Executive Order 189, all state colleges and universities are enjoined to maintain the same enrolment in the secondary level and to operate high school classes until the end of CY 1988 using their 1988 budgetary appropriations.
4. This takes effect immediately.

(SGD.) LOURDES R. QUISUMBING
Secretary

Reference: None
Allotment: 1-2-3–(M.O. 1-87)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
Course of Study, SECONDARY
SCHOOLS
LEGISLATION
TEACHERS
SALARY
UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES

DO_s1988_76