The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for the nationwide expansion of reintegration services for returning overseas Filipino teachers during the National Reintegration Network (NRN) Regional Fair, held at the Leyte National High School on Wednesday.
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said CHED’s participation complements the DepEd’s “Balik Turo: A Hero’s Journey Home” program, which seeks to support displaced overseas Filipino educators.
“Ang layunin ng ating mga inisyatiba ay hindi lamang ang pagbabalik ng ating mga manggagawa, kundi ang pagbibigay sa kanila ng malinaw na landas tungo sa panibagong simula (The goal of this initiative is not just the return of our workers, but also providing them a clear path towards a fresh start),” she said in a statement Wednesday night.
The reintegration program boosts livelihood opportunities for returning overseas Filipino workers amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The CHED has the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), which grants working professionals, including OFWs, the opportunity to earn academic degrees through validation of learning and work experiences.
It also secured collaboration with the DMW and the Department of Labor and Employment for the launch of the ETEEAP Online Enlistment System, resulting in a more streamlined application process.
As of March, the CHED has recorded 3,343 graduates under the ETEEAP, including 333 OFWs and 3,010 local completers.
The CHED is also exploring a potential partnership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to add more assistance and opportunities for repatriated OFWs under ETEEAP.
For his part, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the nationwide expansion of reintegration services will help returning teachers transition to the public school system.
“Ang direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. 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 (The directive of President Marcos is to ensure that there are available jobs waiting for our teachers returning to the country so they need not be separated from their families again),” he said in a separate statement.
Since its inception in 2014, some 11,056 OFW teachers have been reintegrated into the DepEd school system under the Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir (SPIMS) Program.
Throughout the week-long NRN Regional Fair, DepEd is providing essential services including a dedicated SPIMS Help Desk and on-site registration for Accreditation and Equivalency tests.
Families of OFWs can also access Philippine Educational Placement Test registration and Senior High School voucher program support to ensure the uninterrupted schooling of their children.
To further professional growth, DepEd through the Teacher Education Council is offering scholarships in priority programs, alongside sponsorships for board exam review classes and professional licensing fees
There are more than 5,000 OFWs and their dependents recently repatriated from high-risk areas in the Middle East. (PNA)
