The teacher exodus from Central Visayas

According to Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) regional director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, Central Visayas has become a hotspot for overseas teacher recruitment.

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“Cebu is a very potent area... not only are the teachers here intelligent, but they have character and attitude,” he said.

But the success of teachers like Mae comes at a cost. Back home, math, science, and English teachers are resigning in droves, leaving classrooms scrambling to fill critical roles.

A previous report from The Freeman showed that the number of unfilled plantilla positions in Central Visayas dropped from 3.09 percent in August 2024 to 2.75 percent by September.

However, Jimenez acknowledged that reaching full staffing remains unlikely due to the ongoing cycle of resignations, retirements, and deaths affecting both teaching and non-teaching personnel.

DepEd-7 data showed that the total number of vacancies in public schools decreased from 2,661 on August 28, 2024, to 2,369 by September 23, 2024.

SUBJECT MISMATCHED

In some schools, Filipino teachers are reassigned to subjects outside their specialization.

As Jimenez revealed, a Filipino teacher might temporarily handle English, while another may be asked to teach science, even if it is not their major.

“The expertise is gone. And while we try to fill in the gaps, it affects the learners too," Jimenez said.

From August 2021 to early 2024, Central Visayas lost at least 779 teachers to overseas employment, according to DepEd-7. The shortage is compounded by the department’s slow hiring process, which often leaves vacancies unfilled for up to two months after a teacher leaves.

“We cannot replace them quickly,” Jimenez said.