Gatchalian on hiring additional teachers: fill up vacant positions first

Instead of hiring additional 10,000 teachers next year, Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to instead prioritize filling its remaining vacant positions and target displaced private school teachers.

In a Senate panel hearing on the proposed 2021 budget of DepEd and its attached agencies, DepEd Undersecretary Jesus Mateo reported that 34,000 of more than 55,000 unfilled positions are teaching positions, majority of which are Teachers I, II, and III.

For Gatchalian, DepEd should instead speed up its hiring to fill the remaining 34,000 unfilled positions. DepEd reported earlier this month that the suspension of operations of 865 private schools this year affects more than 4,000 teachers.

DepEd's proposed 2021 budget allocates P1.2 billion for the hiring of 10,000 teachers.

"I think it's better to fill it (34,000 teaching positions) up first before we hire again so that we can use the savings for other purposes," said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

The Special Education (SPED) program, for instance, could utilize the fund, according to Gatchalian. He took note that the P300 million-fund allocated for SPED in 2020 was no longer included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2021. This amount, however, was realigned to fund the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (Republic Act 11469). The SPED program supports approximately 439,000 learners.

"I would like to urge the Department to hasten the hiring of those displaced teachers, tutal may 34,000 teaching positions available. It will help them continue their work and bring home something to their families," Gatchalian added.

Gatchalian added that hiring 10,000 additional teachers on top of the 34,000 vacant teaching positions will only increase the unutilized portions of the DepEd budget.

DepEd assured the Senate panel, however, that its hiring process is continuously on-going.

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Mga bakanteng posisyon sa DepEd dapat mapunan-Gatchalian

Imbes na kumuha ng karagdagang sampung libong mga guro sa susunod na taon, hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Department of Education (DepEd) na punan muna ang mga bakanteng posisyon sa kasalukuyan upang matulungan na rin ang mga guro, lalo na ang mga nasa pribadong paaralan, na nawalan ng trabaho.

Sa pandinig ng Senado sa panukalang budget ng DepEd para sa susunod na taon, iniulat ni DepEd Undersecretary Jesus Mateo na mayroong tatlumpu't apat na libong (34,000) bakanteng posisyon para sa mga guro, karamihan ay para sa Teachers I, II at III.

Ayon kay Gatchalian, dapat munang bigyang prayoridad ng DepEd na mapunan ang mga bakanteng posisyong ito. Kamakailan lang ay iniulat ng kagawaran na apat na libong (4,000) mga guro ang apektado ng pagsasara ngayong taon ng mahigit walong daang (865) pribadong paaralan.

Humihingi ang DepEd ng 1.2 bilyong piso para pondohan ang sampung libong (10,000) makukuhang guro sa susunod na taon.

"Ang aking mungkahi ay punan muna ang mga bakanteng posisyon bago tayo tumanggap ng mga bagong guro upang magamit natin ang pondo para sa ibang mahahalagang programa,"ani Gatchalian, Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Isa sa mga programang nangangailangan ng pondo ay ang Special Education o SPED program para sa mga learners with disabilities. Pinuna ng senador na walang inilaang pondo para sa SPED para sa susunod na taon. Ngayong taon, nakatanggap ang naturang programa ng tatlong daang (300) milyong pisong pondo ngunit ito ay iniambag sa pagpapatupad ng Bayanihan to Heal As One Act o Bayanihan 1. May 439,000 na mag-aaral ang suportado ng programang SPED.

"Ang panawagan ko sa kagawaran ay bilisan ang pagtanggap natin sa mga gurong nawalan ng trabaho, lalo na't may 34,000 na teaching positions ang kailangang punan. Bigyan natin ng prayoridad ang mga guro at non-teaching staff mula sa pribadong paaralan na nagsara sanhi ng COVID-19," sinabi ni Gatchalian.

Dagdag pa niya, lalo lamang lolobo ang "unutilized fund" ng DepEd kung hindi ito gagamitin nang husto ng gobyerno.