DepEd ARMM to deploy 6,000 teachers for 2018 BSK elections

COTABATO CITY (May 9, 2018) – Around 6,000 teachers will be deployed in the different barangays in ARMM for the upcoming barangay elections on May 14, 2018.

During a press conference with the ARMM Department of Education (DepEd-ARMM) held on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, regional education secretary Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr., said that three teachers will be assigned as members of the electoral board for every precinct in this year's barangay elections scheduled on Monday.

Each electoral board member will receive an allowance worth P6,500.

Sec. Mitmug said that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set for the barangay elections, with the ARMM’s security forces ready to protect teachers assigned to the polls. He also added that the education department is implementing a mechanism which will monitor the safety of the teachers during the elections, known as the DepEd-ARMM Emergency Response Network.

Meanwhile, applicants for the remaining Teacher 1 positions are currently being screened to fill out the remaining teacher items in the ARMM for the year 2017.

DepEd-ARMM Assistant Secretary Sittie Mariam Balahim said that there are three phases applicants should undergo: examination, interview, and demonstration teaching. 

While teaching eligibility is the baseline qualification, the agency seeks out the best to fill the limited number of teaching positions.

“Kung sino po yung pinakamagaling, 'yun po ang mabibigyan ng item,” Balahim stressed.

Among the aspiring teachers is Meriam Abdullah, a walk-in applicant from Datu Piang, Maguindanao. She is hopeful that she will be chosen by the DepEd-ARMM among her fellow applicants.

“Malaking tulong po sa amin (ng pamilya ko) kung susuwertehin akong mabigyan ng item,” Abudllah said.

The regional education department is also set to fill a total of 2,458 available items for school year 2018-2019, which includes teaching positions in the elementary and junior high school level, pending the issuance of the Notice of Organization, Staffing and Compensation Action (NOSCA) from the DepEd-Central Office.

Sec. Mitmug also addressed concers about the teachers’ status should the Bangsamoro Basic Law be passed soon. He said that DepEd-ARMM has already started preparing for the transition by updating their records of teachers and the inventory of equipment.

He also echoed information that has been provided by legislators during peace forums, saying that DepEd-ARMM teachers who hold appointive positions will not be removed upon the dissolution of the region. 

However, they could avail different options during the four-year transition period which include reapplication for a teaching position, filing for terminal leave, or any other option that may be provided for by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

In terms of furthering education reform in the region, Sec. Mitmug is pushing for school-based management (SBM) which is a strategy that better empowers the DepEd-ARMM, along with schools across the region, in terms of planning and decision-making on education policies. 

In addition, the secretary shared plans to draft and distribute worksheets custom-made by the DepEd-ARMM for first graders in the region. This aims to enhance their learning abilities based on the 3Rs (read, write, and recognize) while also focusing on basic subjects. 

Sec. Mitmug believes that these worksheets will be a great help, especially to those pupils who live in remote areas and find it difficult to acquire books. 

“Ang pinaka-exciting part dito sa worksheet natin ay magiging common material siya para sa mga bata sa ARMM, para magkaroon ng common identity,” he added. 

“Pagtulungan po natin ito. Ang importante po ay malinis ang intension natin na lahat ng ito ay para sa ating mga kabataan,” Sec. Mitmug said. (Bureau of Public Information)