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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hundreds of OFW teachers seek return to PH classrooms—DepEd

Hundreds of OFW teachers seek return to PH classrooms—DepEd

Published Apr 19, 2026 09:30 pm
(DEPED PHOTO)
(DEPED PHOTO)
Hundreds of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) teachers have sought pathways to return to classrooms in the Philippines, driving a surge in reintegration inquiries during the government’s nationwide fairs, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.
The agency said this week’s Bayanihan Para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa National Reintegration Network (NRN) Fairs, held in partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), provided returning licensed teachers and their families access to employment opportunities and education-related services.
“Ang direktiba ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ay tiyaking may naghihintay na maayos na trabaho para sa ating mga gurong nagbabalik-bayan upang hindi na nila kailangang muling mawalay sa kanilang mga pamilya (President Bongbong Marcos has directed that decent jobs must be ready for our returning teachers so they will no longer have to be separated from their families again),” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement.
“Sa pamamagitan ng programang ito, hindi namin kayo hahayaang mag-isang harapin ang mga hamon sa inyong pagbabalik (Through this program, we will not let you face the challenges of returning on your own),” he added.
President Marcos and Angara formally launched the regional fairs in Tacloban City last Wednesday as part of a whole-of-government effort to assist OFWs affected by tensions in the Middle East.
The education department said the fairs recorded high engagement in the Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir (SPIMS) Program help desks, with returning teachers seeking to reintegrate into the public school system.
The agency said at least 166 educators inquired about the program in Cagayan Valley, while 105 were recorded in Calabarzon.
Meanwhile, the Negros Island Region logged 96 inquiries and Central Visayas 94.
It added that the Cordillera Administrative Region recorded 78 inquiries, while Mimaropa had 48.
Beyond job opportunities, DepEd said it offered support services such as scholarships for qualified relatives of OFWs who aim to enter the teaching profession, along with education subsidies for OFW children under its voucher program.
It also administered special tests, including the Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) and Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT), to support families returning to the Philippine education system.
The agency added that licensure support and review incentives were extended to those preparing to take board examinations.
In total, DepEd said around 3,100 inquiries were assisted across participating government agencies during the NRN Fairs, reflecting the government’s efforts to support returning OFWs.

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