The “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir (SPIMS) Program” is an initiative of the Philippine government to persuade licensed public school teachers OFWs and practice their profession back in the country. It aims to reduce the shortage of public school teachers and serve as a reintegration program for OFWs, especially returning OFW-Licensure Examination for Teachers (OFW-LET) passers. This program gives qualified OFWs a chance to return to the Philippines and work as public school teachers.
In addition, the SPIMS program was made possible through the collaboration of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), aiming to assist OFW teachers in pursuing their education career. So if you’re an OFW-LET passer planning to return to the Philippines for good, read on to find out the qualifications, requirements, and application procedures for the SPIMS program.
What is SPIMS?
The “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir (SPIMS)” is a reintegration program for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have passed the LET. It offers employment to qualified OFWs, allowing them to work in varying public schools in the Philippines as elementary and junior high school teachers. Under the program, recruited beneficiaries will attend an Online Refresher Course to re-educate and enlighten them with the necessary teaching skills.
Moreover, the beneficiaries can opt to work as non-teaching staff in private and government institutions. The SPIMS program is implemented by varying institutions, including DOLE Regional Offices, NRCO, and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO). Other educational institutions also partake in this program, such as the Professional Regular Commission (PRC), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Philippine Normal University (PNU).
Benefits
For qualified beneficiaries with approved applications, you will receive an Online Refresher Course retraining and a Teacher I position from DepEd.
Aside from that, you will get teaching kits based on the school assignment, a laptop or tablet, and P20,000 worth of school materials.
Qualifications
For interested returning OFW applicants, here are the qualifications for the SPIMS program:
- Filipino citizens with valid Philippine passports
- OFWs who have returned to the Philippines but did not stay for over 3-years upon their application
- OFW-LET passers:
- Accumulated at least 1 year of teaching experience within the last 5years
- Accumulated teaching experience beyond the last 5 years
- Without teaching experience
Do note that OFWs who passed the LET examinations within the last 5 years no longer need to take the Online Refresher Course, regardless of their teaching experience. On the other hand, OFW-LET passers with accumulated teaching experience beyond the last 5 years and those without teaching experience should take the Online Refresher Course or Regular Refresher Course from the PNU.
Requirements
If you’re qualified for the SPIMS Program, secure the following documentary requirements for the application:
- Application Form (available at NRCO)
- Passport or any valid ID
- Copy of passport (showing pages with arrival and departure stamps)
- Copy of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID
- Copy of Certificate of Board Rating (issued by PRC)
- Copy of proof of employment, such as Certificate of Employment, Employment Contract, or equivalent document from an overseas employer
- Copy of Certificate of Employment as a Teacher (if available)
How to Process SPIMS Project for Teachers
Once you’ve secured the necessary documents, you may follow the steps below to apply for the SPIMS program:
Via Online Application
- Fill out the application form online thru this link: https://nrco.owwa.gov.ph/index.php/programs-and-services/sa-pinas-ikaw-ang-ma-am-sir-program.
- Wait for the SPIMS team to respond, containing the requirements to secure.
- Next, submit the documentary requirements via email.
- Once approved, the SPIMS team will ask your preferred school to be assigned.
- Wait for the Notice of Organization Staffing and Compensation Action (NOScA) they will send.
- After receiving the NOSca, you will automatically be in the item assignment.
Via OWWA Office
- Visit the nearest OWWA Regional Office.
- Inquire with the guard or front desk where to apply for the OWWA SPIMS program.
- Submit your documentary requirements to the SPIMS officer.
- Next, the SPIMS officer will instruct you to take the Online Refresher Course.
- If not, your requirements will be collected by the NRCO and submitted to the Department of Education.
- Then, wait for a confirmation email from the SPIMS team for further evaluation.
Also, an appointment may be necessary for some POLO and OWWA offices if applying for the SPIMS program. So you should contact the said offices to inquire if they accept walk-ins or book an appointment ahead of your visit.
Via Email
- Click this link to download the SPIMS application form.
- Next, secure the documentary requirements and send them to spims.updates@gmail.com or nrco@owwa.gov.ph.
- Then, wait for a confirmation email from the SPIMS team for further evaluation.
SPIMS Program Online Refresher Course
As stated earlier, the Online Refresher Course offered by the Philippine Normal University (PNU) is for beneficiaries without teaching experience and those who accumulated teaching experience beyond the last 5 years. The refresher course re-educates and refreshes the beneficiary’s skills and knowledge that are essential as they return to teaching.
Here’s the process for taking the Online Refresher Course:
- The PNU will receive an endorsement letter from DOLE-NRCO containing the list of OFW-LET passers required to attend the course.
- If required to take the Online Refresher Course, you’ll receive an email from PNU that contains your Enrolment Key to access the online platform.
As of 2015, the Online Refreshers Course is free, according to the website of DOLE-NRCO. However, applicants attending the course should pay PNU an Assessment/Certification fee of P1,500.
How to Download SPIMS Application Form
The SPIMS Application Form is available at NRCO. But for those applying for the SPIMS program via email, you can get the application form thru this link. You can also request a copy of the SPIMS Application Form at nrco@owwa.gov.ph. Here’s a sample of the SPIMS Application Form:
Reminders on OWWA SPIMS Program
For those who wish to return to the Philippines as public school teachers, please take note of the following reminders when applying for OWWA SPIMS Program:
- The SPIMS program is for active OWWA members who are OFW-LET passers. They should have finished employment contracts abroad, been repatriated to the Philippines, or planning to pursue their teaching careers.
- Before DepEd conducts evaluation and final screening, NRCO will perform the preliminary assessment of all applicants. PNU or other partner institutions will also receive a recommendation from NRCO with the list of participants attending the Online Refresher Course.
- For applicants approved for DepEd final screening, the designated Division Office will send you a Notice of Organization Staffing and Compensation Action (NOScA), which contains the school assignment.
- As of 2015, the Online Refresher Course is free, as per the DOLE-NRCO website. But the participants should pay PNU P1,500 for the Assessment/Certification fee.
- The program is for OFW-LET passers that did not reside in the Philippines for more than 3 years from the application.
- The SPIMS Application Form is available at this link and NRCO. You can also request the application form at nrco@owwa.gov.ph.
- Qualified beneficiaries also have the option to choose their school of assignment.
- Also, the Online Refresher Course is not for beneficiaries that passed the LET within the last 5 years. However, OFW-LET passers with accumulated teaching experience beyond the last 5 years and those without experience should take the course.
Video: SPIMS (Sa Pinas Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir) Program | Paano mag Apply ng OWWA SPIMS Program
To learn more about the SPIMS program, please watch the video below:
As discussed in the video, the SPIMS program is for OFW-LET passers who wish to return for good to the country. It’s part of the OWWA reintegration program that provides returning OFWs employment at public schools in the Philippines.
However, aspiring applicants should meet the qualifications and requirements to apply for this program. Furthermore, applicants can apply online, via email, or at the OWWA Regional office. Thus, OFWs who have been repatriated or planning to return to the country benefit from the OWWA SPIMS Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SPIMS Program?
The SPIMS is an employment reintegration program of OWWA. It assists repatriated or returning OFW-LET passers. Qualified beneficiaries can teach as public teachers in the Philippines and choose their preferred school of assignment. Moreover, the program is for OFWs who want to pursue their teaching career in the Philippines.
How to apply for SPIMS Program?
OFW-LET passers can apply for the SPIMS program online, via email, or at OWWA Regional offices. But before that, they should meet the qualifications and secure the documentary requirements to apply for the program.
Who are qualified for SPIMS Program?
The SPIMS program is for Filipino citizens with valid Philippine passports. They should be OFWs who have been repatriated or returning to the Philippines. It’s for OFW-LET passers with accumulated teaching experience of at least 1 year within the last 5 years. Additionally, OFW-LET passers with accumulated teaching experience beyond the last 5 years and those without teaching experience are qualified for the SPIMS Program.
Summary
The SPIMS, or “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir”, is a beneficial program for OFWs who are LET passers returning or repatriated to the Philippines. It’s an OWWA reintegration program that aims to help the returning OFWs, allowing them to work as public school teachers in the Philippines.
For OFWs who wish to pursue their career as teachers, the SPIMS program helps them find employment to teach as elementary and junior high school teachers. The program also includes an Online Refreshers Course, making it easier for OFWs to refresh their skills and knowledge as teachers.
