DepEd expands reintegration for OFW teachers

MANILA, Philippines —  With more licensed teachers returning from their jobs abroad, the Department of Education (DepEd) has expanded its national reintegration network or NRN Fairs to more parts of the country to accommodate the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have expressed interest in returning to Philippine classrooms.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the NRN Fairs aim to provide employment support and educational services to the displaced OFW-teachers who are affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

“The directive of President Marcos is to make certain that there are good jobs waiting for our returning teachers so they no longer have to be separated from their families,” Angara said. “Through this program, we would not let you face these challenges when you return home.”

Data from the events held at DepEd venues across the country showed high engagement for the “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir” or SPIMS program help desks, as hundreds of returning educators sought pathways to reintegrate into the local public school system.

The regional NRN Fairs assisted 3,100 inquiries, including those at the Cagayan Valley fair, wherein 166 educators expressed interest, and in Calabarzon with 105 teachers.

The SPIMS Program drew at least 96 queries in the Negros Island Region fair, 94 in Central Visayas, 78 in the Cordillera Administrative Region and 48 in Mimaropa.

Aside from potential employment, DepEd provided scholarships for qualified OFW family members wishing to enter the teaching profession, and subsidies through the voucher program for children of OFWs.

Special tests for accreditation and equivalency and for the Philippine Educational Placement Test were offered to help the OFW-teachers transition back into the Philippine school system.