LET passers await PH teaching jobs

ALL SMILES. LET and BLEPT passers smile for the camera as they line up for their oath-taking ceremonies held at the PCG on Mar. 26.

THIRTYTHREE-year-old Joan Marquez, a mother of two and one of those who passed the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (formerly Licensure Examination for Teachers) held in Hong Kong in September 2016, is raring to go home to the Philippines and start teaching.

There is one problem though. She is still waiting for her assignment or item from the Department of Education.

Marquez is one of a number of domestic workers in Hong Kong who have registered with the “Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir” (SPIMS) program of the Philippine government.

Launched in late 2014, SPIMS aims to gain back the Filipino overseas workers, particularly the OFW LET or BLEPT passers. The program also seeks to reverse outbound migration by enhancing the OFWs’ skills and providing them option to stay in the Philippines to work as teachers.

“Kapag may item na ako, siguradong uuwi na ako. Kahit walang ipon, siguradong uuwi na ako. May pamilya ako at may dalawang anak. Iyong panganay ko, 10 years old, at iyong bunso, five years old kaya gustong-gusto ko nang umuwi,” she told Hong Kong News.

Marquez has recently signed her second contract with her employer in Hong Kong.

On the sidelines of the oath-taking ceremonies of LET or BLEPT passers held at the Philippine Consulate on Mar. 26, Gemma Lauraya, president of the National Organization for Professional Teachers (NOPT), echoed Marquez’s statement, saying that most of their members would prefer to return to the Philippines and be with their family.

“Naghihintay sila ng tawag. Iyong iba kapag alam na nilang sigurado na ang item nila, talagang uuwi na sila. Iyong iba skeptical sila sa project kasi iyong iba nauunang nagreregister pero nahuhuling

natatawagan,” Lauraya said.

One of those who had been given an item or assignment is 31-year-old Bettylyn Jacinto, who also passed the BLEPT in September 2016. She was scheduled to fly back to the Philippines on Mar. 31.

“Nagpunta ako dito sa Hong Kong para maka-ipon kahit paano. Two years lang naman itong kontrata ko, at tapos na ang kontrata ko sa April. May naipundar naman ako kahit konti,” Jacinto said.

She would be teaching at a primary school in Sta. Maria. Bulacan.

Not everyone, however, wants to go back to the Philippines immediately. Mary Ann Marchan, 31 and single, said she would still want to stay in Hong Kong and continue working for her employer.

“Ito na ang pangatlong kontrata ko. Maganda naman ang pakikisama ng employer ko at siyempre, maganda din ang sahod ko,” said Marchan, whose siblings are also teachers in the Philippines.

Consul-General Bernardita Catalla, who led the oath-taking of the 74 board passers, urged them to go back to the Philippines soon.

“Huwag nating patagalin. We have to take the first steps. Una ay ihanda natin ang ating mga sarili dahil alam nating sa gobyerno kapag nakapasok na tayo, hindi tayo agad na sumusuweldo, kaya dapat mag-impok tayo,” she said.

Catalla said those who have worked overseas would be able to share a wealth of experience to their students and their community in the Philippines.

“Marami tayong maisha-share sa kanila na wala sa eskwelahan na natutunan natin dito sa Hong Kong habang tayo ay nagtratrabaho,” Catalla said.

At least 300 Filipino teacher-returnees, most of them used to work as domestic helpers in Hong Kong, have successfully secured permanent teaching positions through the Department of Education.

“DepEd has reserved 500 slots for this program so the number can still increase,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in Manila.

The reintegration program, called “Sa ’Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir,” allows OFWs who passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers to apply and be employed by the education department as

teachers.

“We aim to provide decent and sustainable work for returning OFWs as public school teachers,” Bello said.

“It has also helped ease the country’s insufficient supply of public school teachers especially in the provinces and remote areas,” he said.

The program covers OFWs who have returned to the Philippines in the last three years and had teaching experience in the past five years.

Those who have no teaching experience at all, or those whose teaching experience was interrupted for more than past five years, will undergo an online refresher course.

Those interested to avail of the program may check www.nrco.dole.gov.ph, while online application forms are available at http://tiny.cc/ofwletpassers.

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre said they would hold another BLEPT here in Hong Kong, but would want to tap a reputable review institution to help prepare those who are taking the exam.

As for the Civil Service Exams, Dela Torre said they would be holding it in October, but would also need to tap a group to help in the review of examinees.

“I just want to make sure na may review classes para ma-improve naman iyong ating passing rate,” he said.