Volunteer teachers program helps ease teacher shortage

The shortage of teachers remains a major challenge in the country’s basic education system. To address this problem, Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation (MMDC) has augmented the teaching personnel of some of the most depressed areas in Surigao del Sur.

Through the Department of Education (DepEd) "Volunteer Teachers" program, MMDC sought qualified teachers and assigned them in different public schools in Cantilan and Carrascal towns.

Six of these teachers are detailed in four different schools in Cantilan: Palasao Integrated School, Cantilan Pilot School, Buntalid Elementary School and Simeon Natalia Azarcon Memorial Elementary School.

The rest are assigned in two primary schools in Brgy. Panikian, Carrascal, namely Maicam Primary School and Camp David Primary School.

Personnel under the Volunteer Teachers program are local residents. Through this program, additional employment are made available to deserving and qualified professionals in poor areas. The program has been going on since 2010.

One of MMDC’s volunteer teachers is Jennybren A. Tating, who obtained her degree in education through MMDC's college scholarship program.

Tating says she is "twice grateful" to MMDC for providing her immediate work after shouldering her college education.

"To be able to teach in my own community has truly been an inspiring experience for me and for my pupils as well,” Tating says.  “This is also my way of giving back to MMDC's generosity."

MMDC's commitment to education is reflected on its various educational support programs, jointly funded by its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

MMDC holds a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA No. 016-93-XIII) covering an area of 4,799 hectares in the Surigao del Sur municipalities of Cantilan, Carrascal, and Madrid.