ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro on Tuesday called on the Department of Education to urgently address the shortage of teachers and education support personnel by implementing a comprehensive hiring program.

She made the call following her visits to

the Batasan Hills National High School, President Corazon Aquino Elementary School, and Melencio Castelo Elementary School, where she witnessed the urgent need for additional personnel such as nurses and guidance counselors.

Castro urged the government to allocate sufficient funds for the recruitment and deployment of essential personnel.

“We need a systematic and strategic approach to address the lack of teachers and education support personnel in our public schools. It is high time that we prioritize the needs of our students and invest in their future,” she said.

“The lack of teachers and education support personnel is a critical issue that needs to be addressed immediately. It directly affects the quality of education and support services that our students receive,” she added.

Castro highlighted the importance of having an adequate number of teachers to ensure manageable class sizes and effective instruction.

“We cannot expect our students to thrive and succeed without sufficient personnel to guide and support their learning journey,” she said.

She also stressed the need for more nurses and guidance counselors to provide the necessary health and emotional support to students.