If ongoing talks between the Philippines and China work according to plan, more English teachers from the Philippines are expected to be in China very soon.
There is an increasing demand for English teachers to teach in Chinese universities, and primary and secondary schools, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said on Tuesday.
To facilitate the entry of more Filipino English teachers, the Chinese government has expanded the definition of “English-speaking countries” to include the Philippines, where English is a widely spoken language.
“Before, the concentration was on native-speaking countries, but now they have included any country where English is taught. They said native-speaking countries and countries that were colonized by these English-speaking countries and the Philippines was colonized by the United States,” Sta. Romana said.
Ambassador Sta. Romana said that China did not specify the number of Filipino teachers it wants, but talks are ongoing to set the qualifications for teachers using PH’s licensure exam as reference.
“So when the time is ripe and I think it will happen soon, they will announce it and as long as you have these qualifications and if you’re from the Philippines, you can compete with other countries that are applying for jobs here,” he added.
A formal agreement between the two countries aims to formalize the recruitment of Filipino educators as well as standardize pay and benefits to protect them from exploitation.
Sta. Romana credited the new labor opportunities for Filipinos in China to President Rodrigo Duterte’s initiatives to improve relations between Philippines and China.
Credit: GMA News
