DepEd to support returning teachers from the Middle East

The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday that returning Filipino teachers are welcome to join the public school system in the Philippines, as conflict in the Middle East escalates.

“To all the Filipino teachers in the Middle East and other parts of the world, the doors of our public schools are open for you,” Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara said in Filipino in a statement.

“If you decide to go back, the DepEd will be with you to start a new chapter of being in service,” he added.

Through the Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir (SPIMS) Program, licensed Filipino teachers working overseas will have access to a reintegration path, allowing them to transition into the public school system in the Philippines.

Eligible applicants must be Filipino citizens or Philippine passport holders who are Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) passers with at least one year of accumulated teaching experience within the last five years, and who have not resided in the Philippines for more than three consecutive years.

“The program ensures institutional coordination for a structured and orderly transition of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) into the public education system,” the DepEd said in a statement.

The SPIMS Program is an initiative led by the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (DMW-NRCO) and implemented in coordination with partner agencies, including DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), among others.

The DepEd noted that qualified applicants may be hired and appointed as Teacher I under permanent status to help address the teacher shortage. An online refresher will also be available to those who need it to better align pedagogical competencies with the current educational standards.

“DepEd recognizes the valuable contributions of Filipino teachers abroad and remains steadfast in strengthening the country’s teacher workforce while upholding support mechanisms for educators, both at home and overseas,” it said in a statement.

Data from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in October 2025 found that among 52,745 OFWs who participated in its reintegration programs, 656 were OFW teachers who secured public school positions through the SPIMS program. — Almira Louise S. Martinez