DOST scholars priority in hiring new teachers

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Education  is giving priority to state science scholars as it now looks to fill new teaching vacancies this coming school year.

In a memorandum, Education Secretary Armin Luistro ordered school officials to give preference to scholars of the Department of Science and Technology who just graduated this March.

DepEd listed 68 DOST Science Education Institute (SEI) scholars from different parts of the country eligible for priority hiring in public high schools for school year 2012-2013.

“To address the critical need for Science and Mathematics teachers, all regional directors are again enjoined to give priority to DOST-SEI scholars in the hiring of teachers in public secondary school,” Luistro said in DepEd Memo No. 55.

The memo was addressed to all education executives, directors, school division superintendents, regional directors, school heads, principals and teachers.

Luistro said the new graduates are expected to pass the teacher’s licensure examination within this year.

“As stipulated in the scholarship agreement, upon completion of their courses, these scholars are required to teach in public secondary schools in their home region for a period equivalent to the number of years they enjoyed their scholarship,” said Luistro.

While teaching slots are limited due to budget constraints, DepEd needs some 74,000 teachers to achieve the ideal teacher-student ratio of 1 to 45.  The Department is set to hire some 13,000 teachers this year.

Teachers groups have meanwhile called on government to halt the practice of hiring contractual teachers, including “volunteer” kindergarten teachers who receive P3,000 a month without benefits.