Over 1,400 displaced teachers from private schools employed by DepEd to serve as learning support aides

On Tuesday, November 3, the Department of Education (DepEd) said that the agency hired  1,421 displaced teachers from private schools as Learning Support Aides (LSAs) to help teachers facilitate the lesson of learners.

We have started taking in or employing para-teachers even if they are not fully qualified according to our standards because we really need additional teachers at this time,

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said. 

Briones said that DepEd has requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to allow the agency to hire LSAs. “The [Civil Service Commission] will review their qualifications,” she added. 

Earlier the agency announced that they have already hired over 3,200 LSAs in five regions. 

Of this number, around 2,000 are paid for by DepEd and the others are LGU-paid,

Undersecretary Jesus Mateo explained.

Ang kinukuha natin ay tao na nasa community para ma-prevent natin ang transmission ng COVID,

he added. 

Hiring of LSAs depends on the needs of schools, Mateo explained. LSAs would cater the needs of learners without adults at home who will help in their studies, students who cannot do independent learning, learners with special needs, and for students whose parents are working. 

DepEd, meanwhile, reiterated that LSAs will not replace nor duplicate the functions of teachers, who will still be the main facilitators of learning instruction in public schools.