EDCOM 2 flags shortages in Special Needs Education teachers nationwide

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to address significant vacancies in Special Needs Education (SNED) teacher positions across the nation. An analysis as of February 11, 2026, revealed that 717 out of 6,613 authorized SNED teacher positions, or 10.8%, remain unfilled, with major vacancies in NCR, Region III, and Region 4A. The commission highlighted gaps in teacher deployment to schools serving learners with disabilities and called for a review of planning and allocation of plantilla positions, as well as immediate hiring.