DepEd backs teacher volunteers’ termination

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) Talisay City Division defended the city government’s termination of the 62 volunteer teachers.

Division superintendent Woodrow Denuyo said that the number of teachers already exceeded the required ratio which might be questioned by the Commission on Audit.

Denuyo explained that before the termination was made, each teacher was already handling less than 45 students. He said that the requirement is one teacher for every 45 students as minimum and one teacher for every 60 students as maximum.

According to Denuyo, keeping the 62 volunteer teachers would result in less workload which is questionable.

City Administrator John Yre De los Reyes said the city wants a win-win solution to the problem. The city government is calling a meeting today with all the affected teachers.

The local government unit terminated last September 27 the contract of 62 Teacher Aid Volunteers. They were hired by the previous administration which the current city leadership claimed to be part of the “midnight appointments” made by then mayor and now councilor Socrates Fernandez.

The teacher volunteers went to the city hall yesterday to ask for explanation. They questioned why only city attorney Alfredo Sipalay signed the termination order and not Mayor Johnny De los Reyes.— (FREEMAN)