THE COMMISSION on Higher Education (CHED) is expanding its educational support for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, viewing it as a key investment in human capital development.

During an event at the Leyte National High School (LNHS) gymnasium on Wednesday, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis emphasized that the government remains committed to prioritizing education by expanding programs for returning OFWs and their families.

“Education is not an expense but an investment,” Agrupis said during his speech, echoing the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen human capital development.

The CHED programs for OFWs and their families were showcased during the “Bayanihan para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa: National Reintegration Network Fair and Balik Turo: A Hero’s Journey Home” held at the LNHS campus.

CHED implements upskilling and reskilling initiatives, including online platforms that enable individuals to convert prior learning and work experience into academic credentials through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program.

Agrupis added that returning workers may also access scholarship programs such as the Tertiary Education Subsidy, Tulong Dunong Program, and the Presidential Merit Scholarship, which offers up to 20,000 slots for top-performing students.

“These initiatives aim to make higher education more inclusive and accessible, especially for OFWs and their dependents seeking to continue or complete their studies,” she said.

Beneficiaries of the “Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir (SPIMS)” program also shared how government support enabled their transition from overseas employment to teaching careers in the Philippines.

Danilo Silla, who spent 17 years teaching in Thailand, shared that he is now serving as a public school teacher in Leyte, underscoring that returning educators can resume their vocation in the country.

He recounted how the uncertainty during the pandemic prompted them to explore opportunities back home.

“It happened during the pandemic when everything was uncertain. We looked for opportunities in case we decided to return to the Philippines, and that’s when we discovered the SPIMS program,” Silla said.

President Marcos witnessed the event in this city, along with Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan.

Hundreds of returning OFWs from Eastern Visayas attended the fair offering government services, employment, and reintegration support, especially for teachers who worked abroad.

Since its launch in 2014, the SPIMS program, implemented in partnership with DMW, has facilitated the reintegration of at least 11,056 OFW teachers into the Department of Education system.

The expansion of the NRN fairs follows a pilot rollout in Quezon City earlier this month and is part of the government’s efforts to support thousands of OFWs and their families displaced from high-risk areas in the Middle East.

Officials said the fairs also offer services such as SPIMS help desks, on-site registration for accreditation and equivalency tests, and access to educational support programs for OFW families, including the Philippine Educational Placement Test and Senior High School voucher assistance. (PNA)