The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said that it is ready to support Filipino teachers who may be affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and are considering returning to the Philippines.

DepEd, in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), provides a reintegration pathway for licensed Filipino teachers employed overseas to transition into the public school system through the Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir (SPIMS) Program.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the Department’s commitment to supporting returning educators.

Qualified applicants may be hired and appointed as Teacher I under permanent status, subject to compliance with established qualification standards and existing hiring guidelines.

The SPIMS Program is an employment reintegration convergence initiative led by the National Reintegration Center for OFWs and implemented in coordination and partner agencies, including DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and other relevant government offices.

The program ensures institutional coordination for a structured and orderly transition of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) into the public education system.

Specifically, SPIMS aims to provide returning OFW-Licensure Examination for Teachers passers with gainful employment in public schools, help address teacher shortages in support of the K to 12 curriculum, and offer online refresher courses for those who may need to update their pedagogical competencies in line with current educational standards.

Eligible applicants must be Filipino citizens or Philippine passport holders who are 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 based on their latest arrival record.