DepEd wants to tap technical professionals to teach science, math

MANILA, Philippines—Professionals in the technical fields are eyed to teach Science and Math in the upcoming senior high school due to the shortage in competent teachers in these subjects.

Education Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo said public schools would need professionals willing to teach senior high school students to help raise the quality of education.

“Since the quality of education is going down, we have to get more Science and Math teachers. But we are in a shortage of Science and Math teachers to teach in senior high school,” he said.

Mateo said while they would like to hire “the best and qualified” among applicants, “we can’t hire them because they’re not licensed, when in higher levels (of studies) you need specialization.”

He was referring to the requisite license-to-teach obtained by teachers by passing the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), previously the Professional Board Examination for Teachers (PBET).

Mateo said they have been hindered by the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (Republic Act 4670), which has required public school teachers to possess an education degree or education units and to pass “competitive exams.”

The proposed law that will formalize a 12-year basic education cycle, or the K to 12 program, includes the proposal that will give DepEd some flexibility on the legal requirement for an LET license.

Mateo said House Bill 6643 would allow DepEd to hire non-education graduate professionals in technical fields.

“But they need to get a (teacher’s) license in five years,” he said.

While Congress has yet to pass a law, DepEd implemented this year the new K to 12 curriculum with the mandatory kindergarten, six years of elementary (Grades 1 to 6), two years of junior high (Grades 7 to 10) and two years of senior high school (Grades 11 to 12).

Senior high school or Grades 11 will start nationwide in 2016, with the curriculum expected to include technical-vocational education subjects.

“Those who practice should be the ones teaching. We need to have practicing mechanics, even successful farmers,” Mateo said.

He, however, pointed out that in the hiring of 61,510 new teachers in 2013, the current requirements including a LET license, education, teaching experience, skills, training, interview and actual teaching demonstration would apply.

“The same criteria, the same qualifications will apply,” he stressed.

Nevertheless, DepEd sought to amend a 1996 law that has since required DepEd to give priority to local residents when hiring public school teachers.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro last week formed a nine-man technical working group (TWG) chaired by Mateo to draft amendments to the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 8190 or the so-called “localization law.”

The law grants priority to residents of the barangay, municipality, city or province where the school with the vacant teaching position is located.

Luistro said he formed the TWG “to ensure that the hiring of 61,510 teachers in 2013 will subscribe to the ‘merit and fitness rule’ as mandated in the Constitution.”