ILOILO CITY, April 11 (PIA) --- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced "development packages” for faculty and staff in higher education institutions (HEIs) who will experience a much lower workload during the K-12 transition period.
In a media release, CHED-6 chief education program specialist Dr.Rex Casiple said that this comprehensive range of developmental programs will not only curb the adverse effects of the transition but also, and more importantly, upgrade higher education in the country.
Under the scholarships for graduate studies and professional advancement, CHED will give a total of 15,000 scholarships to higher education personnel — for 8,000 to complete master’s degrees and another 7,000 to finish doctorate degrees.
For development grants for faculty and staff or for those who may not wish to go on full-time study, CHED said that they may still avail of grants that will allow them to retool, engage in research, community service, industry immersion, and other programs throughout the transition period.
CHED is also set to offer innovation grants for institutions. HEIs may apply for innovation grants to fund the upgrading of their programs through: (1) international linkages, (2) linkages with industry, (3) research, or (4) the development of priority, niche, or endangered programs.
CHED also clarified that the estimated displacement stands at 25,000 people and it is not true that 80,000 people stand to lose their jobs in light of the transition.
According to a study conducted by CHED, the Philippines Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), and the UP Population Institute, only about 13,274 teaching (12% of total) and 10,464 non-teaching (18% of total) personnel may be displaced across the 5 years (2016-2021) K-12 transition period.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) needs to hire 30,000 new teachers and 6,000 new non-teaching staff in 2016-2017 alone, and about the same number again for 2017-2018—more than enough to absorb all the displaced personnel from the higher education sector.
DepEd will open a "Green Lane” to prioritize and fast-track their hiring, in keeping with Republic Act 10533, and will match them according to locality and salary.
Those who will opt not to transfer to DepEd, on the other hand, will benefit from the Adjustment Measures Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
DOLE will provide income support for a maximum duration of one year, employment facilitation that matches their skills to the current job market, and training and livelihood programs in case they may want to pursue entrepreneurship. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo).//
