THE DEPARTMENT of Education said that it will hire 9,650 additional teachers this year.

DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa said that the hiring process is ongoing.

“Ayon po sa ating pag-uusap with our HR, ang target talaga natin, kasi meron tayong teacher items that we are targeting to hire for, around 9,650 [ngayong taon],” Poa said.

Poa said that the department has two options for resolving the teacher and classroom shortages.

“One track is iyong traditional, iyong pagpapatayo ng classrooms, pag-hire ng additional teachers,” he said.

“Ang isang track na ine-explore natin ngayon is really to maximize iyong technology that’s available to us nang sa ganoon ma-amplify natin – iyong sinasabi nga ng ating Vice President – pagdating sa ating mga teachers,” the spokesperson added.

DepEd is also considering using technology for additional learning resources and to institutionalize blended learning.