SENATOR Francis Pangilinan has called on the Department of Education to hire more teachers to ensure that the positions funded by the 2020 budget are filled.

“Ang pinakamabuting paraan para parangalan ang ating mga titser at non-teaching personnel ay magarantiyahan na may trabaho sila at ang kanilang kapakanan ay pinagtutuunan ng pansin,” Pangilinan said.

The DepEd has reported that 748 out of 14,435 private schools nationwide would not operate this school year. This would affect some 3,233 teachers and 40,345 learners, who were either forced to transfer to public schools or drop out.

Pangilinan said that while the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act allocated P300 million for a one-time cash assistance to displaced teaching and non-teaching personnel in private and public schools, having a regular source of income and being able to practice their sacred calling are more important.

According to the DepEd, there are 988,567 teaching positions available but only 932,760 were filled. It requested for additional 10,000 posts under the proposed 2021 budget.

“Sufficient human resources in the education system is as crucial these days, especially when we are embarking on blended learning,” Pangilinan said.

The senator also pushed for an additional budget for the needs of teachers and non-teaching personnel so they could effectively carry out their tasks in online and modular learning.

A survey conducted by DepEd showed that more than 50 percent of learners prefer printed modules in the conduct of distance education.

“This early, we have been hearing from DepEd officials about the lack of funds for printing of modules and the scenario of sharing of the printed copy among students,” Pangilinan said.

“This has to be addressed as this could pose health risks to both the teachers and students. Knowing, too, how devoted our teachers are to their vow, it is not far-fetched that they would initiate producing the extra copies of the modules out of their own pockets. Our teachers deserve better treatment from the government,” he added.