Davao Region allocated 2,900 teacher positions

THE Department of Education (Deped) 11 is all set for the opening of classes this Monday, June 3, despite problems arising from the lack of teachers and classrooms in the Davao Region.

“The directive was not to suspend classes in the areas stricken by Typhoon Pablo,” Deped 11 spokesperson Jenielito Atillo told Sun.Star Davao.

Atillo said although there will be concerns regarding the lack of public school teachers and classrooms, they are trying to remedy the situation.

At the moment, Deped 11 is in the process of filling up more than 2,900 new teacher positions allocated for Davao Region by the education department central office to solve the perennial problem of shortage of teachers.

“So far, we have already filled up 90 percent of the

total allocations,” he said.

For the entire country, there are a total of 61,150 teacher positions allocated for this school year.

Atillo said both the Davao and national figures are the biggest so far.

“This is the biggest allocations since time immemorial,” Atillo said.

In the past, Davao is only allocated 500 teacher postitions.

Aside from the allocations, Atillo said Deped 11 and the Local School Board (LSB) are also hiring teachers of ther own to help solve the problem on teacher lack.

Deped 11 expects an increase of three percent in the total number of elementary pupils for school year 2013-2014 and another four percent hike in the number of secondary students.

With the increase, the expected total number of elementary pupils for the new school year is 703,559 and secondary students at 260,654.

Meamwhile, Deped 11 will establish the Oplan Balik Eskwela Information and Action Center to hnadle complaint of parents and students during the opening of classes.

Atillo said the center will help ensure a smooth and organized school opening.