Filipino profs can teach other subjects: DOLE

FILE: Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III (Photo: PNA)

MANILA — Teachers who might be affected by the supposed removal of Filipino and Panitikan (Literature) as general education subjects in college should not worry as they can teach other subjects.

“Why would they become jobless? Education (sector) remains. Teachers do not just teach Filipino anyway,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in an interview Tuesday.

Bello also noted that these teachers may consider applying for teaching employment opportunities in China.

Manila and Beijing recently approved the implementing rules and regulations of the bilateral agreement for the deployment of Filipinos to work as English teachers in China.

“They should not worry, especially since there is a demand for English teachers,” he added.

Some 2,000 English teachers are needed for the program.

Last month, the Supreme Court upheld the order of the Commission on Higher Education to remove Filipino and Panitikan from the general education curriculum of colleges and universities.

Reports said the order might displace some 10,000 teachers from various institutes of higher learning.

The Department of Education earlier said it has absorbed professors teaching Filipino in line with the implementation of the K to 12 program.

However, Filipino and Panitikan subjects are still part of the curriculum for Grades 11 and 12 of the K to 12 program.