The original article can be found at Department of Education website https://www.deped.gov.ph.
“The implementation of the BE-LCP demands for a holistic approach and a stronger partnership among schools, households, and communities. As such, the need for additional human resource at the school level becomes imperative,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said, just days after the official opening of classes for school year (SY) 2020-2021 as DepEd operationalizes the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan in the time of COVID-19 (BE-LCP).
The BE-LCP requires the complementary and broader roles of parents, guardians and other household partners, and members of the community to support the learning process of the students at home, hence, the need for additional manpower in schools. It is for this reason that DepEd shall be engaging the services of Learning Support Aides.
Learning Support Aides (LSAs) are qualified individuals who will work together in collaboration with teachers and contribute to the provision of learning opportunities that promote achievement and progression of learners.
“As education must continue amidst pandemic, our teachers tackle the additional tasks, challenges, new expectations in the new normal, thus, the need for the learning support aides is crucial”, Secretary Briones added. Their services at the school level will provide support addressing the need of students who cannot manage independent learning, including those with disabilities and special needs; those who do not have a household member or any responsible adult available to provide instructional support and facilitate distance learning delivery modalities; and households with parents and guardians with full-time jobs who may not be able to monitor and guide the child’s learning at home.
The LSAs main duties in collaboration with teachers are: 1) guide learners and households on the chosen learning delivery modalities, 2) render assistance to the teacher in the lesson preparation and delivery, and 3) monitor and track learners’ progress and achievement. LSAs shall report directly to the teacher whom he/she is assisting. This means that the teacher is still the main responsible school personnel in-charge of the teaching-learning process.
“Teachers remain to be the main facilitators of learning. The engagement of LSAs is DepEd’s way of ensuring provision of assistance to our teachers in managing learners and in coordination with teachers ensure that learning is taking in different learning modalities” said DepEd Undersecretary for Planning, Human Resource and Organizational Development Jesus L.R. Mateo.
Learning Support Aides shall be engaged under Contract of Service or Job Order, subject to Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commission on Audit (COA), and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2017 (Rules and Regulations Governing Contract of Service and Job Order Workers in the Government), as amended by Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2018, and other applicable policies, issuances, rules and regulations. They shall receive remuneration or compensation for services rendered and the amount of which shall not be below the minimum daily wage rates set by the National Wages Productivity Commission per region.
All School Division Offices (SDOs) with identified need to hire LSAs are instructed to offer the position to the existing teacher applicants for SY 2020-2021 who were not given permanent or provisional appointments due to lack of available permanent teaching items.
Other qualified individuals who may apply as LSAs include LET passers in the locality; private school teachers, especially those who were displaced and have lost their livelihood due to the pandemic; and provisional teachers whose contracts were not renewed.
“The hiring of LSAs is another employment opportunity that can boost local community livelihood in this time of pandemic”, Usec Mateo added.
The engagement of Learning Support Aides in all public elementary and secondary schools including senior high schools, in school year (SY) 2020-2021 is guided by DepEd Order No. 32, s. 2020 or the Guidelines on the Engagement of Services of Learning Support Aides to Reinforce the Implementation of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) in Time of COVID-19 Pandemic.
