‘We must properly compensate our teachers’ – Sonny Angara

Reelectionist Senator Sonny Angara (center, left) graces with his presence the teachers’ convention held in Lucena City last April 15, 2019. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Reelectionist Senator Sonny Angara said the government should pay teachers more if it wants to improve the quality of education in Philippine public schools.

“Quality education begins with quality teachers. And to have good quality teachers in our public schools we need to pay them well. Let us give them a respectable compensation,” Angara said, as he reiterated his appeal to the government to give teachers a reasonable pay increase.

He added: “I am sure money is not the overriding motivation for educators because many of them are dedicated and they love what they are doing. But teachers are not martyrs; they should be valued by society and compensated accordingly.”

Earlier this year, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that his promise to increase the take-home pay of public school teachers could finally happen this year. He, however, did not mention how much the increase would be, but it is expected to be definitely on top of the fourth and last tranche of salary increases for all government workers to be implemented this year.

Reelectionist Senator Sonny Angara speaks during the teachers’ convention held last April 15, 2019, in Lucena City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Last year, the President also vowed to raise the salary of teachers after the basic pay of military and police personnel had been doubled.

Angara expressed hope that the teacher’s pay adjustment would be equivalent or close to the rate he has been pushing since 2016 when he filed Senate Bill 135.

Under the bill, the minimum salary grade level of teachers will be adjusted from Salary Grade 11 to 19, or double their current monthly base pay of P20,179 to P42,099.

According to Angara, the relatively low pay for teachers discourages many from entering the profession, and the pay hike would attract more qualified and competent educators to teach in public schools.

Doubling the salaries of teachers will require a budget of P343.7 billion.

The Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM) recommended in 1991 to upgrade the minimum salary levels of teachers.

This year, the DBM will commission an independent firm to do a benchmarking on the salary of teachers and other government personnel such as doctors, nurses, lawyers, and others. Based on the results of this study, the DBM will propose the appropriate level of compensation for government workers from 2020 to 2022.

Angara calls on the DBM to prioritize the inclusion of teachers’ pay hike in the proposed 2019 budget to see what funds can be realigned.

“Our teachers are considered to be the heart of the educational system. The government needs to give priority to their welfare and interests,” Angara said. /cbb