DepEd to help private schools address shortage of licensed teachers
By AJ Siytangco
Published Jul 2, 2018 11:34 am
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed openness to help private schools in “finding solutions” to address the shortage of licensed teachers.
DepEd Spokesperson and Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan
(Credit: DepEd Publications Division / MANILA BULLETIN) DepEd Spokesperson and Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan noted that the Department is constrained to implement the regulation as cited in the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act. Earlier, DepEd National Capital Region (NCR) Officer-in-Charge Wilfredo Cabral issued Regional Memorandum No. 78 series of 2018 reminding basic education private school heads on the “minimum qualification of teaching personnel.” Malaluan confirmed that part of DepEd’s monitoring system for regulation of private schools is done through regional offices. “They are just implementing it that those that will be teaching for basic education have passed the LET,” he said. Cabral, in his memo, reiterated that “schools hiring personnel in pre-school, elementary and secondary level of basic education in all private schools shall possess appropriate educational qualifications and must pass the Licensure Examinations for Teachers (LET).” Malaluan said that only LET passers should be allowed to teach in basic education. “That’s the reality of it and we have to enforce it,” he said. CLOSURE ‘IMMINENT’ THREAT Meanwhile, the Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators (FAPSA) expressed concern that with the full implementation of the recent DepEd NCR directive, “closure becomes very imminent” for some private schools. FAPSA President Eleazardo Kasilag said that the implementation of the RM 78 will be like an “Armageddon” for private schools. “Much as we wish, it will be bankruptcy if we shall hire only LET passers because of the pay which we cannot match with the public schools,” he said. “Most of us can only afford the regular minimum wage,” he added. Kasilag lamented that the recent directive will be a big blow to private schools – especially the smaller ones. “DepEd knows our situation and it would be squeezing blood out of stones if that is forced on us,” he added. FAPSA also questioned the directive, noting that “even some big schools have non-LET teaching faculty.” Among the possible interventions that DepEd may recommend to private schools is through the adoption of a “teaching assistant” mechanism. He explained that the DepEd is also facing the same dilemma when it comes to Instructional Managers for its Alternative Learning System (ALS) program. “Our argument is that even if it’s ALS for basic education proficiency, that is still a practice of teaching profession, therefore, the regulation that one must be a LET passer must be applied,” Malaluan said. To address the possibility of having ALS instructional managers without passing LET, DepEd is looking into the implementation of a “supervision mechanism” by a licensed teacher. “We suggested a possible mechanism such can be under the direct supervision of a licensed teacher, so it’s more like a teaching assistant position,” he explained. FINDING SOLUTIONS Should the private schools reach out to DepEd and raise their concerns on the shortage of licensed teachers, Malaluan said that department will be willing to “find solutions” to address the problem. “Kung makarating sa amin, baka pwedeng magkaroon ng pag-uusap kung paano maso-solusyunan kung talagang may shortage nang teachers in the private schools, ,” Malaluan said. “It’s more about finding a solution rather than allowing the teaching whether private or public schools,” he added Malaluan also noted that DepEd “would see it as an issue” if private schools are really facing limitations. “Should they reach out to DepEd, we will look into it if there are undue limitations then we will be open to finding solutions but not to simply relax the implementation of the law,” he said. While DepEd is constrained to implement the regulation, Malaluan said that there are possible arrangements that can be done by private schools. “I think a similar mechanism can be adopted in private schools,” he said, referring to the teaching assistant position mechanism in the ALS. Meanwhile, Malaluan reminded that the teacher practicing without LET has a certain liability based on the law on professional standards for teachers. “The practice of such profession without license has a sanction,” he said. For the private schools, he noted that hiring unlicensed teachers for basic education is a “violation of some of our regulations for recognition” which may also result in certain administrative sanctions.
DepEd Spokesperson and Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan(Credit: DepEd Publications Division / MANILA BULLETIN) DepEd Spokesperson and Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan noted that the Department is constrained to implement the regulation as cited in the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act. Earlier, DepEd National Capital Region (NCR) Officer-in-Charge Wilfredo Cabral issued Regional Memorandum No. 78 series of 2018 reminding basic education private school heads on the “minimum qualification of teaching personnel.” Malaluan confirmed that part of DepEd’s monitoring system for regulation of private schools is done through regional offices. “They are just implementing it that those that will be teaching for basic education have passed the LET,” he said. Cabral, in his memo, reiterated that “schools hiring personnel in pre-school, elementary and secondary level of basic education in all private schools shall possess appropriate educational qualifications and must pass the Licensure Examinations for Teachers (LET).” Malaluan said that only LET passers should be allowed to teach in basic education. “That’s the reality of it and we have to enforce it,” he said. CLOSURE ‘IMMINENT’ THREAT Meanwhile, the Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators (FAPSA) expressed concern that with the full implementation of the recent DepEd NCR directive, “closure becomes very imminent” for some private schools. FAPSA President Eleazardo Kasilag said that the implementation of the RM 78 will be like an “Armageddon” for private schools. “Much as we wish, it will be bankruptcy if we shall hire only LET passers because of the pay which we cannot match with the public schools,” he said. “Most of us can only afford the regular minimum wage,” he added. Kasilag lamented that the recent directive will be a big blow to private schools – especially the smaller ones. “DepEd knows our situation and it would be squeezing blood out of stones if that is forced on us,” he added. FAPSA also questioned the directive, noting that “even some big schools have non-LET teaching faculty.” Among the possible interventions that DepEd may recommend to private schools is through the adoption of a “teaching assistant” mechanism. He explained that the DepEd is also facing the same dilemma when it comes to Instructional Managers for its Alternative Learning System (ALS) program. “Our argument is that even if it’s ALS for basic education proficiency, that is still a practice of teaching profession, therefore, the regulation that one must be a LET passer must be applied,” Malaluan said. To address the possibility of having ALS instructional managers without passing LET, DepEd is looking into the implementation of a “supervision mechanism” by a licensed teacher. “We suggested a possible mechanism such can be under the direct supervision of a licensed teacher, so it’s more like a teaching assistant position,” he explained. FINDING SOLUTIONS Should the private schools reach out to DepEd and raise their concerns on the shortage of licensed teachers, Malaluan said that department will be willing to “find solutions” to address the problem. “Kung makarating sa amin, baka pwedeng magkaroon ng pag-uusap kung paano maso-solusyunan kung talagang may shortage nang teachers in the private schools, ,” Malaluan said. “It’s more about finding a solution rather than allowing the teaching whether private or public schools,” he added Malaluan also noted that DepEd “would see it as an issue” if private schools are really facing limitations. “Should they reach out to DepEd, we will look into it if there are undue limitations then we will be open to finding solutions but not to simply relax the implementation of the law,” he said. While DepEd is constrained to implement the regulation, Malaluan said that there are possible arrangements that can be done by private schools. “I think a similar mechanism can be adopted in private schools,” he said, referring to the teaching assistant position mechanism in the ALS. Meanwhile, Malaluan reminded that the teacher practicing without LET has a certain liability based on the law on professional standards for teachers. “The practice of such profession without license has a sanction,” he said. For the private schools, he noted that hiring unlicensed teachers for basic education is a “violation of some of our regulations for recognition” which may also result in certain administrative sanctions.