Reaction Paper

I. ISSUE: Department of Education: The Most Bureaucratic Agency

II. Introduction
Max Weber a German sociologist propounded the theory called principle of bureaucracy a
theory related to authority structure and relations in the 19th century. According to him,
bureaucracy is the formal system of organization and administration designed to ensure
efficiency and effectiveness.
He suggested an ideal model for management as bureaucratic approach. He, in the book the
theory of social and economic organizations, explained the basic principles of bureaucracy. He
gave emphasis on division of labor, hierarchy, detailed rules and impersonal relations.
Moreover, a bureaucracy is a way of administratively organizing large numbers of people who
need to work together. Organizations in the public and private sector, including universities and
governments, rely on bureaucracies to function. The term bureaucracy literally means rule by
desks or offices, a definition that highlights the often impersonal character of bureaucracies.
Even though bureaucracies sometimes seem inefficient or wasteful, setting up a bureaucracy
helps ensure that thousands of people work together in compatible ways by defining everyones
roles within a hierarchy.
Government bureaucrats perform a wide variety of tasks. We often think of bureaucrats as paperpushing desk clerks, but bureaucrats fight fires, teach, and monitor how federal candidates raise
money, among other activities.
The job of a bureaucrat is to implement government policy, to take the laws and decisions made
by elected officials and put them into practice. Some bureaucrats implement policy by writing
rules and regulations, whereas others administer policies directly to people. The task of running
the government, and providing services through policy implementation, is called public
administration.

III. Body/Discussion
Today, bureaucracy is a large administrative organization that handles the day-to-day business of
a government or society. The Department of Education is an example of a bureaucratic agency.
The Department of Education is a system of organization noted for its size and complexity.
Everything within a bureaucracy responsibilities, jobs, and assignments exists to achieve
some goal in education. The superintendent of a large urban school district is a bureaucrat, as are
the teachers, librarians, nurses, and security guards.
Education in the Philippines is managed and regulated by the Department of Education,
commonly referred to as the DepEd in the country. The Department of Education controls the
Philippine education system, including the creation and implementation of the curriculum and
the utilization of funds allotted by the central government. It also manages the construction of
schools, acquisition of books and other school materials, and the recruitment of teachers and
staff.
Bureaucracy just like the Department of Education share similar characteristics, including
specialization, hierarchical organization, and formal rules. In the best circumstances, these
characteristics allow a bureaucracy to function smoothly.
Department of Education as a bureaucratic Agency has a firm chain of command. Whatever is
the policy that they made, we as a teacher must follow. Just like the implementation of K to 12.
Even if there are a lot of problems, deficiencies, inadequacies of classrooms, books etc. we must
comply what they implemented.
In education also, we have this call specialization. But base on my experienced during the
assessment of applicant teachers, why is there a lot of BSEd graduates applying in the
elementary level? What kind of specialization is this? Its unfair. We, the Bachelor of elementary
Education graduates was only allowed to apply in the elementary level while those who
graduated of Bachelor of Secondary Education can teach in elementary, secondary and even in
the tertiary level.But of course, we cant do nothing.

Additionally, work of the organization is divided on the basis of specialization to take the
advantages of division of labour. Each office in the bureaucratic organisation has specific sphere
of competence.This involves:
(i) a sphere of obligations to perform functions which has been marked off as part of a systematic
division of labour;
(ii) the provision of the incumbent with necessary authority to carry out these functions; and
(iii) the necessary means of compulsion are clearly defined and their use is subject to definite
conditions.
Thus, division of labour try to ensure that each office has a clearly-defined area of competence
within the organisation and each official knows the areas in which he operates and the areas in
which he must abstain from action so that he does not overstep the boundary between his role
and those of others. Further, division of labour also tries to ensure that no work is left uncovered.
Every task is broken down into its component parts, and different people work on different
parts of the task in the Department of Education. Together they get the job done, just like bees in
a hive who divide their labor for maximum efficiency.
Another thing is that the Department of education has a universalism of rules and regulations that
apply all the members of the organization but there is no consistency. For example, during the
assessment of applicant teachers, new policy was implemented in hiring teachers. We must reach
the 70 points based on our

qualifications (e.g. our ratings in Licensure Examination for

teachers,general weighted average in our education, demonstration,interview,trainings and score

in English Proficiency Test).But there are a lot of cases where recruitment, employment are not
based on qualifications and achievements.There is what we call Palakasan System. This is now
very rampant today. There are also instances that some of the applicants buy the Item so that
they will get permanent.
Furthermore, in other cases, there is an also positive reason why there is no consistency of rules.
Surely, because they want to improve the quality of our education as well as the quality of
teachers.As you can see, we are now under the K TO 12 CURRICULUM.As per order of our
Secretary of Education, we must embrace it be ready for the changes in our educational system.

IV. Findings
Max Webs contribution plays a significant role. According to his observations, he concluded
that many early organizations were inefficiently managed, with decisions based on personal
relationships and loyalty. He proposed that a form of Work specification and division of labor,
Abstract rules and regulations, Impersonality of managers and Hierarchy of organization
structure would lead to more efficient management. And For better or worse, a bureaucracy is the
best way to organize large numbers of people working toward the same goal.
The following stated are some of my observations in the Department of Education as a
bureaucratic Agency:

The duties and responsibilities of each job are clearly defined there is question of

overlapping or conflicting job duties.

The selection process and promotion procedures are not based on merit and expertise. It
doesnt assists in putting right persons on right jobs. There is no optimum utilization of

human resources.
There is Palakasan System.
The enterprise does suffer when some persons leave it. If one person leaves then some

other doesnt occupies that place and the work does suffer.
There is Impersonality, nepotism, favoritism and impartial decision making.
Controlling by rules allows decisions made at high levels to be executed consistently by

all lower levels.

Each level controls the level below and is controlled by the level above. A formal
hierarchy is the basis of central planning and centralized decision making.

IV. Stand/Position
Yes, I strongly agree that the Department of Education is The Most Bureaucratic Agency.
Simply because, there is a precision, continuity, discipline, strictness and reliability in this
organization.
First, Department of Education has a precision because we, as teachers, follows holiday, exact
enrollment, the number of days of classes, and the date where we celebrate the different
academics and non-academics activities. Second, there is continuity because we cant abolish

education. Education is very important in every individual. As Nelson Mandela said Education
is the best weapon in changing the world.Third, we, as teachers continue to serve education
because in every day of our lives, there are children who need to be educated. Fourth, there is
discipline and strictness in the sense that we must follow the prescribed uniforms, submit reports,
etc. and if we committed a mistake where in we violated some rules and regulations or else it is
against in our Code of Ethics, there is a necessary disciplinary action for that kind of actions.
Additionally, if there are policies that they implemented, we must strictly comply. And lastly,
there is reliability. The service we rendered is properly compensated. Just like for example, in my
experience to serve during the May 9 Election, my service rendered was properly compensated.

Reaction Paper

Submitted by:
Ma. Victoria V. Daludado
Submitted to:
Prof. Joseph Acorda