The Department of Education (DepEd) is eyeing to hire para-teachers and volunteer teachers to tutor learners as part of this year's blended learning approach.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Wednesday said this is to help parents in the education of their children especially with the implementation of new ways of learning amid the COVID-19 crisis.
“We’re recruiting them, we’re also asking for volunteer teachers,” she said.
As for the para-teachers salaries, Undersecretary Jesus Mateo told the Manila Bulletin that DepEd is “exploring" the possibility of tapping "local government units (LGUs) through their Special Education Fund (SEF).”
He added that the number of para-teachers and volunteer teachers to be recruited will largely "depend on need."
Meanwhile, Briones said DepEd is conducting upskilling programs for parents through the regional and schools divisions "to orient them in the new learning modalities.”
Briones stressed the need for parents to work together with LGUs to ensure the success of blended learning.
She added, parents should ensure learning materials to be delivered for the use of their children are “carefully packaged, cleaned and sanitized."
“We’re taking all the precautions possible - covering all the challenges that we need to deal with - in a limited amount of time,” she ended.