Teachers group calls on gov’t to hire teachers displaced from work due to pandemic

With the continuing rise in numbers of infected with Covid-19, many were displaced from different work sectors. Mostly were from private sectors including private schools. The education system wanted learning to continue and resorted to blended learning.

Photo credit: thesummitexpress.com

Numerous learners from the private school sectors enrolled in public school due to most of parents losing their jobs, businesses forced to close and even private schools deciding not to open this school year.

On Thursday, a teachers' group urged the Philippine government to hire teachers who have been displaced after more than 700 private schools closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Based on the recent data from the Department of Education (DepEd), 748 private schools notified that they would not open for the new school year.

Following the temporary closure of private schools, thousands of teachers are affected and lost their source of income. Teachers’ Dignity Coalition said in a statement that private schools are considered as partners of public school system in the delivery of education service to the Filipino and should not be thought as competition.

More so, teachers in private educational institutions are part of the working-class- the men and women who labor to keep the economy going and among those that were severely hit by the socio-economic crisis following the pandemic, 

said Benjo Basas, TDC national chairperson.

Thus, the schools as institutions and the teachers as individuals should be assisted by the government in these tough times.

Basas emphasized that there must be a comprehensive assistance package for affected educators, especially those who work in small private schools that are dependent on enrollment fees for operations, and mission schools in far-flung areas that serve lesser fortunate communities.

The government may think of some sort of subsidy and incentives. This may decrease the enrollment in the already congested public schools, 

he said.

The migration of private school learners to public increases enrollment data, also increases workloads for teachers who are still trying to cope with the new normal in education, he emphasized.

According to DepEd data, the temporary closures would affect 40,345 students and 3,233 teachers.

Basas called on government to give out help to affected teachers and prioritize the eligible ones in hiring for plantilla positions. He also appealed to DepEd to structure the hiring procedure for the posts so other positions included in the 2020 national budget could be filled up immediately before the resumption class on October.

He also added that by doing this, funds would be needed so he’s addressing the appeal to the Congress to reallocate the required budget.

Under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) law, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations earlier said that they are hoping that the enrollment in private schools will improve. Under this measure, qualified students, displaced teachers and non-teaching personnel are provided with allowances.