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MANILA, Philippines — To address the “learning losses” of Filipino students during the COVID-19 pandemic, more teachers and school staff have been hired under the Marcos administration, Malacañang said Sunday.
Citing a report from the Department of Education (DepEd), the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said that in 2022, a total of 11,580 teachers were hired and 5,000 administrative officer items were created to unburden teachers from administrative loads.
Meanwhile, 15,331 teachers and school leaders received graduate scholarships while 17,636 were trained in early-grade language literacy.
In addition, a total of 161,700 teachers completed the National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) subsidized teaching courses and 31,700 teachers underwent the Teacher Induction Program.
The DepEd also prepared a “national learning recovery plan” to guide regions, divisions and schools in addressing learning deficiencies due to pandemic-related disruptions, the OPS said.
The plan also includes extending the school calendar, establishing a learning support center in schools and community-based learning spaces, conducting summer learning remediation and intervention programs, and hiring additional learning support aides.
“DepEd data indicated that the proposed policy is anchored on learning remediation and intervention, professional development, health, safety and mental wellness,” the OPS said in a press release.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier cited the importance of supporting teachers and not “scrimping on the amount” for the children’s education as the country’s future lies on them.
“Our children must be equipped with the best that we can possibly provide. We cannot scrimp on the amount. Lahat ng maaari nating ibigay sa kanila, ibibigay natin sa kanila so that they get the best quality of education that we can afford without being wasteful,” Marcos had said.
(We will give all that we can give them so that they get the best quality of education that we can afford without being wasteful.)
The chief executive has since reiterated that the Philippines must do better in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses.