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Addressing shortage of teachers: Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva notes the huge shortage of teachers in the country, pointing out that 1,500 teachers left the country from 2013 to 2017, as per data of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Villanueva also cited an Asian Development Bank (ADB) study which showed that teacher to student ratio in the Philippines is greater than Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore with more than 20 students per one teacher. During the presentation of the proposed Department of Education (DepEd) budget for 2024 before the Finance Subcommittee D on Monday, September 4, 2023, Villanueva took note of the agency's proposed P5.7 allocation to hire 20,000 teachers for next year. “What is the ideal teacher to student ratio and how many teachers do we need to reach such ratio? And what is going to be the effect of the hiring target of 20,000 teachers for 2024 to address the shortage of teachers in public schools?” the majority leader asked. DepEd Usec. Gloria Jumamil-Mercado told senators that the country needs 86,000 teachers to reach the ideal 1:30 teacher-student ratio. Villanueva also raised the issue of 43,014 unfilled positions in the agency. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)