As tensions continue in parts of the Middle East, the Department of Education (DepEd) reached out to thousands of Filipino teachers, students, and families abroad, offering not just policy guidance, but reassurance.

In an “Online Kumustahan” held on Tuesday, April 7, DepEd checked on more than 23,000 students and educators across 27 Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs), many of whom are children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) navigating uncertainty far from home.

Amid the situation, education officials emphasized that the safety and continuity of learning for Filipinos abroad remain a top government priority.

“In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we are here to provide support and clear guidance to ensure the education and safety of our OFWs and their families amid this challenge,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in a message read during the session.

The real-time dialogue allowed school administrators to raise concerns directly to DepEd, from crisis communication protocols to how academic requirements can be adjusted in line with host country regulations.

Since March, all 27 PSOs in the Middle East have shifted to online learning as a precautionary measure, ensuring that classes continue even as the security situation evolves.

For many school officials, the session went beyond updates—it became a space for connection.

“Thank you for holding this session. It was a truly enlightening discussion,” said Dr. Noemi Formaran, president of the Association of Philippine Schools Overseas (APSO), echoing the sentiments of educators on the ground.

To sustain this support, DepEd said the “Online Kumustahan” will be held regularly, serving as a platform for updates, coordination, and immediate assistance.

PSOs, which operate in 10 countries, mostly in the Middle East, follow the DepEd curriculum to ensure students can seamlessly reintegrate into the Philippine education system upon returning home. They also serve as cultural anchors for young Filipinos growing up abroad.

Beyond addressing immediate concerns, the dialogue also sought to identify specific needs of OFW families, reinforcing the government’s commitment to their protection and welfare.

For teachers whose employment may be affected by the unrest, DepEd highlighted its reintegration program, “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir” (SPIMS), which offers permanent teaching positions in public schools to returning educators.

Since 2014, more than 11,000 licensed teachers have been absorbed into the country’s public school system through the program—helping fill local shortages while allowing returning OFWs to continue their profession back home.