699 DOLE-RO6 ‘para teachers’ boost DepEd’s teaching force

The pandemic gripping the world caused a downturn but it is during these trying times that opportunities are created.

The DOLE-RO No. 6 through the Antique Field Office (AFO) hired six hundred ninety-nine (699) interns under the Government Internship Program (GIP) to assist the Department of Education (DepEd) in implementing the Distance Learning Delivery Modalities for School Year 2020-2021 in the Province of Antique.

The initiative was implemented to address the challenges of Covid 19 pandemic.

Dubbed by DepEd as ‘para teachers,’ the interns help prepare modules and do clerical activities. As the school year progresses, they will be involved in the students’ learning activities.

Most being graduates of Bachelor of Arts major in Education and ICT-related courses, the ‘para teachers’ were deployed in all barangays in eighteen (18) municipalities and in twenty-two (22) DepEd Offices in the province.

Rocel Joy M. Sancha expressed her gratitude to DOLE for the opportunity. “I am thankful to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for giving me this opportunity to start a new job.  For me, it is a kind of a career change. I am learning a lot from the teachers I am working with.”

Seeing the challenges brought by the pandemic, Sancha left her job in a computer shop and along with other interns started working under the Government Internship Program (GIP) on September 1 this year.

DOLE-RO No. 6 Regional Director Cyril L. Ticao highlighted the impact of the program to the education sector. “The engagement of the GIP interns in helping the teachers is timely considering the need for additional manpower to assist in providing education amidst this pandemic.”

Ticao added that the GIP not only provides employment but also develops talents and skills, provides valuable experience and help prepare the interns as future teachers and educators.

Katherine Mae Aban expressed her excitement on being employed as one of the ‘para teachers.’  “This is my first teaching job and I am looking forward to new learnings. I am excited to help children and parents from my barangay.’’

A holder of Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in English degree, Aban has been helping teachers of Atabay Central School (San Jose, Antique) in doing clerical and administrative work.

DOLE-RO No. 6 –Antique Field Office (AFO) Head Melissa S. Navarra described this year’s GIP engagement as more meaningful to the interns for they will be helping learners and parents from their barangays cope with the challenges of the distance learning modalities.

Along with providing opportunities, the Regional Office also gives utmost consideration to the safety of the interns in carrying out their tasks. “DOLE-RO No. 6 with the DepEd conducted an orientation of the interns on health protocols. They are also provided with face masks and face shields,’’ assured RD Ticao.

The interns are also enrolled in GSIS group accident insurance on top of the daily minimum wage they receive.

The Office of the Representative of the Lone District of Antique supported the hiring of interns to augment the workforce of the DepEd in the province.