If given the opportunity to work abroad for a brighter future, would you take it?

Amid the continuing challenges in the Philippine education sector, the story of Angelica Llona Baroso, 24, who placed 4th in the March 2024 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT), offers a ray of hope and inspiration.

The top 4 of March LET prioritizes serving Filipinos despite high demand of teachers overseas.

Working Overseas or Locally

Data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) between 2011 and 2017 reveals that nearly 1,500 teachers leave the country annually to work abroad.

This trend is primarily driven by low salaries, difficult working conditions, and burnout.

However, despite the growing demand for teachers both locally and internationally, Baroso’s commitment to staying in the Philippines to teach serves as an inspiring example.

Raised in Modest Family

Baroso was raised in a modest family in Libon, Albay, as the daughter of a farmer and a housewife.

According to Baroso, “I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by passionate and dedicated teachers whose examples inspired me to follow in their footsteps at an early age.”

Her teachers who introduced her to the beauty of teaching greatly influenced her.

Dream to Become a Teacher

She pursued her studies at Bicol University-Daraga campus, enrolling in Secondary Education with a focus on Science in 2018. However, she had to take a year off due to a health issue that required surgery for a bilateral hernia.

Despite the setback, Baroso viewed it as an opportunity to strengthen her determination and commitment to graduate. Upon returning to her studies, she was focused on achieving her dream of becoming a teacher and becoming the first in her family to earn a degree.

Growing Demand for Teachers

According to the United Nations, there will be a need for 44 million teachers worldwide by 2030 to meet the Sustainable Development Goal for quality and inclusive education.

However, many teachers in the Philippines seek better opportunities abroad in countries like China, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan, and Thailand, as reported by the POEA. While Baroso admitted that working abroad had crossed her mind, she ultimately chose to remain in the Philippines.

She emphasized that to motivate young teachers to stay, they need proper support from the government. This includes aligning pre-service training with the subjects new teachers will teach, reducing their administrative duties so they can concentrate on teaching, and providing access to modern technology and other resources to improve their teaching skills.