Learning Support Aides

Joselito C. Cabije

THE Department of Education sees the need for additional human resource at the school level as imperative, because the implementation of the BE-LCP demands for a holistic approach and a stronger partnership among schools, households, and communities.

According to the DepEd, the BE-LCP requires the complementary and broader roles of parents, guardians and other household partners, and members of the community to support the learning process of the students at home, hence, the need for additional manpower in schools. It is for this reason that DepEd shall be engaging the services of Learning Support Aides.

Learning Support Aides (LSAs) are qualified individuals who will work together in collaboration with teachers and contribute to the provision of learning opportunities that promote achievement and progression of learners.

The DepEd said that as education must continue amidst the pandemic, teachers tackle the additional tasks, challenges, new expectations in the new normal, thus, the need for the learning support aides is crucial.

Their services at the school level will provide support addressing the need of students who cannot manage independent learning, including those with disabilities and special needs; those who do not have a household member or any responsible adult available to provide instructional support and facilitate distance learning delivery modalities; and households with parents and guardians with full-time jobs who may not be able to monitor and guide the child’s learning at home.

The LSAs’ main duties in collaboration with teachers are: 1) guide learners and households on the chosen learning delivery modalities, 2) render assistance to the teacher in the lesson preparation and delivery, and 3) monitor and track learners’ progress and achievement. LSAs shall report directly to the teacher whom he/she is assisting. This means that the teacher is still the main responsible school personnel in-charge of the teaching-learning process.

While teachers remain to be the main facilitators of learning, the engagement of LSAs is DepEd’s way of ensuring provision of assistance to teachers in managing learners and in coordination with teachers ensure that learning is taking in different learning modalities, the DepEd noted.

All School Division Offices (SDOs) with identified need to hire LSAs are instructed to offer the position to the existing teacher applicants for SY 2020-2021 who were not given permanent or provisional appointments due to lack of available permanent teaching items.

Other qualified individuals who may apply as LSAs include LET passers in the locality; private school teachers, especially those who were displaced and have lost their livelihood due to the pandemic; and provisional teachers whose contracts were not renewed.

The hiring of LSAs is another employment opportunity that can boost local community livelihood in this time of pandemic, DepEd said.

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The author is Secondary School Teacher III at Angeles City National High

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