MORE VALUE | Makabayan bloc pushes for P50K salary for entry-level teachers in public schools

February 14, 2024 , 11:34 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(February 14, 2024) – Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc on Tuesday filed a measure seeking to increase the minimum salary of public school teachers to P50,000 in an attempt to improve their economic condition.

Under House Bill (HB) No. 9920, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel doubled down on the need to ensure that teachers, like any other employees, earn a living wage.

“The state policies of ensuring that education receives the highest budgetary priority and that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment are hereby reiterated,” read HB No. 9920.

Under Section 2, the salary of teachers in higher positions would accordingly be adjusted if HB No. 9920 becomes a law. It also provides for an annual adjustment of salaries not only for teachers but also for education support personnel “to keep pace with the cost of living.”

“The Department of Budget and Management, upon consultation with the unions and organizations of public school teachers, shall recommend to Congress the appropriation of the necessary funds,” added the bill.

In announcing the filing of the measure, ACT Teachers urged the education sector to support the campaign for higher salaries to let lawmakers know their sentiments.

“Layunin ng panukalang batas na ito na taasan ang minimum wage ng mga guro na matagal nang napag-iwanan at hindi na nakasasapat. Ito ay matagal nang ipinaglalaban ng ACT Teachers Partylist dahil noon pa man ay salat na salat na ang suweldo ng mga guro,” read the group’s post on Facebook.

Currently, entry-level teachers in public schools earn P27,000 per month since they are classified under SG 11. Over the past years, progressive groups have repeatedly stressed that this amount is not enough because of inflation and other economic challenges.

It is also common for teachers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, to shell out funds from their own pockets for work-related needs despite their already meager income. According to cause-oriented groups, this practice can be abandoned if the government provides adequate support to teachers.

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Education (DepEd), which is headed by Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, to conduct a long-term outlook for the wage increase of teachers last year.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) pressed Marcos last August to fulfill his campaign promise of increasing the salary of teachers, noting that his directive to the DepEd is a welcome development.

“We hope that the government will act quickly because it was one of the president’s election campaign promises that he had to keep,” said TDC chairperson Benjo Basas, stressing the need for a proper compensation package and better support for the welfare of teachers.

(PM)

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