DepEd hit for wage policy

ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro on Thursday slammed the Department of Education (DepEd) for making the private school teachers’ salaries as the standard for the wages of public school workers when it should be the other way around. Castro said private school teachers also need salary increases and their salaries should not be the government’s standard. She noted teachers in the country are among the lowest paid in Southeast Asia. Castro pointed out, “For the longest time, the government has been denying public school teachers salary increases by pitting their salaries against teachers in the private sector, which is wrong because most private school teachers are paid at very low rates, even near-starvation salaries.” Castro reminded the Deped that additional allowances do not satisfy teachers’ demand for salary increase because allowances are only meant to support teachers and are not even included in the computation of retirement benefits. The ACT Teachers lawmaker addd, “Teachers are demanding adequate salary increases and additional benefits that would support them in their performance of their duties. Both should be prioritized by the government.” She asked the House leadership to prioritize the passage of House Bill Nos. 203 and 562 which seek to increase the salaries of public and private school teachers as well as their teaching supplies, clothing, internet and special hardship allowances. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE

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