Everyone may not know how hard it is to be a public teacher in our country. Other people don't understand how professional teachers struggle just to be hired in a public school. Other people say bad comments to other unemployed teachers without them knowing the real reason behind being unemployed.

Why do other professional teachers prefer to work in private schools or in abroad?

Many professional teachers in our country are working abroad and some are in private schools. It's a sad reality. I have many friends and relatives who decided to go to abroad and teach foreign students. They said it was practical but aside from that, they also were having a hard time applying to public schools. Some of them are licensed teachers and I can say that they're enjoying their job profession abroad. You can't see in their faces that they're stressed or so. They even joked with me about how much is my salary and will compare to theirs. I don't feel envy, instead, I felt happy for them because at last, they were happy now with their job than what I witnessed them before when they were still waiting for a call and hired in our public school, some of them also didn't able to be in the registry of qualified teachers because their points aren't enough.

What are the struggles of the teachers to be in public and what are the things that need to be done to be hired and called for a said position in a public school?

• Have a degree of bachelor in education. Or, if your course is not education, you can take 18 units of professional education or supplemental.

• Pass the licensure examination for teachers. You need to undergo and pass the exam. In this exam, you will take general education, major (specialization), and professional education. You need to pass the three to pass the licensure exam and have your license of professionalism. If you'll pass the exam, you need to prepare things and money to get the documents that are needed for the ranking. What are those? The I.d, passing, and board rating from PRC.

• You need to take a TESDA certificate or NC2. You need to because it will be 10 points in the ranking. That's why some of us took the certificate after 1 month or 6 months of class, it depends on the vocational school you enrolled in and how many days you will took the class.

• Take the English Proficiency test which will be also in need during the RQA. This is 15 points during the ranking that's why we should practice and take it seriously because the points are the same as the licensure examination for teachers.

• Much better if you'll have Teaching Experience because it will be a big help for the addition of your points during the ranking. It's 15 points also. Some may be fortunate even if they don't have any teaching experience and still able to have 70 points maybe because their points in other category is big enough to earn such points.

• RQA. In this part, there were lots of things to consider and to prepare. During this time, your patience and perseverance will be tested. RQA is where professional teachers undergo a ranked system. What we do in the RQA? We will pass our documents like PRC I.d, voters I.d/certificate, board rating, and lesson plan. We will also undergo a teaching demonstration and interview. And also our EPT result same with the teaching experience certificate as proof. If the teacher able to pass the 70 points in the RQA, he/she willa be priority to be called by the Deped. But that doesn't assure though because not all professional teachers were called. That's why some took another ranking the next year hoping to get the call and get hired.

This is the reason why some professional teachers prefer to work in private schools or abroad. They need to work in private schools because they need to earn a teaching experience for the ranking. Others also are not fortunate to be called or hired even if they already pass the RQA because they were tired of waiting. And some also work abroad because some said that there, there's no need for teaching experience, and was easy to be hired. I just don't know if it's true but maybe because my friends are now enjoying their teaching life abroad.

My story in getting hired in Public School

I was hired the next year after I graduate college. Even if I don't have any teaching experience. I was even hesitant before if I will be hired soon because I am just an average graduate student but thank God I was hired. It only means that teaching is really for me.

First, I wasn't able to have enough time for the review for the LET examination because I was hospitalized and I lost my mother. In short, I was depressed and my mind was cloudy. But still I able to pass.

Then, I was not able to get or take NC2 certificate instead I just took a 10days of computer training. If a teacher don't have any Nc2 certificate, he/she needs to have a 10 days training to earn a certificate which is needed for the ranking. I am just fortunate to have 10 points even if my certificate is not an NC2 but just a training certificate. What I did? I passed my certificate and did demonstrate what's my certificate indicated. So since it's a computer training, it's easy for me because the demonstration was only basic.

So, I able to passed the RQA with 70.21 points. As you can see, I only got 70 points just enough points right? And in our hometown, I was the second rank for Math Teachers, and glad that the first one was hired already I was also hired near our town. And that's the reason that I am now 3 years in service.

So why I wrote this post?
I just want to say that if you have a friend who are struggling in getting the job they want especially a teacher, please be mindful with what you say. It's because it's not easy to be hired in a public school. A lot of things to consider and even if they able to be in the RQA, it doesn't assured them to get hired that instant. They will wait and if unfortunately didn'tt called, they need to undergo another ranking the next year. And to tell you, in taking the ranking, you need to have money and effort for it.

My wife is one of those who's depressed and was waiting for a call from Deped. She's still hoping but sometimes, she felt of losing hope. That's why I am always here for her and saying that her time to be called will come. For now, she's back to normal and seems optimistic. I hope that she will be hired soon.

----> Teacher Jeff 👨‍🏫