The local government of Zamboanga City has hired additional teachers to address the shortage in public schools in the city.

Some 38 teachers were employed and have taken their oath before the Local School Board (LSB).

They were recruited to augment the 166 LSB teachers hired previously for the 200 elementary and secondary schools in the city. Their salary will be sourced from the Special Education Fund of the city government.

According to the local government, the recruitment of the LSB teachers was still based on the standard set by the Department of Education (DepEd).

DepEd-Zamboanga City said the shortage was caused by the increasing number of enrollees.

In school year 2023-2024, student population reached more than 270,000, way more than the 8,000 teachers.

The number of enrollees is even expected to increase after the enrollment in August 2024.

“Yes, may shortage pa rin tayo pero we are happy. That’s the reason why we tied up with the local government thru LSB (Local School Board) para to at least augment,” DepEd-Zamboanga City School Governance and Operations Division OIC Chief, Basilio Uy, said.

DepEd added that some teachers are handling several grade levels because of the increasing number of student population each year.

“Although may coming man tayo from central office pero with the number of learners, may mga shifting pa nga tayo, yung iba, mga multigrade, isang teacher magtuturo siya ng tatlong levels, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, or minsan nga combination kasi nga kulang tayo sa teachers,” Uy said.

DepEd is also planning to hire non-teaching personnel to perform administrative tasks so teachers can focus on actual teaching.

“Soon, we can still add, pwede din tayo mag-hire even job orders para to help especially administrative officers, yung mga admin task sa mga teachers,” Uy added.