Photo by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Friday slammed the Department of Education’s (DepEd) last-minute release of the P5,000 cash allowance for all public school teachers.
DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa earlier announced that the allowance, which is included in the regular budget for teaching supplies, will be given to teachers within the first week of the reopening of classes.
READ: DepEd to give teachers P5K cash aid on 1st day of classes
But Vladimer Quetua, ACT national chairperson, said releasing these funds is long overdue.
“Sobrang delayed na ng P5,000 teachers’ allowance. Nagpatung-patong na ang abono ng mga guro sa Brigada Eskwela, hindi pa dumarating ang cash allowance,” he said in a statement.
(The release of the P5,000 allowance for teachers is too delayed. As a result, many Brigada Eskwela teachers shelled out their own money since they haven’t received their cash allowance.)
Quetua also pointed out that this amount is insufficient to get the teachers through the school year.
“May mga guro na lampas P5,000 na ang sariling gastos sa pagsasaayos ng kanilang klasrum. Nasa P25 kada araw ng klase lamang ang katumbas ng P5,000 cash allowance,” he added.
(Some teachers spend more than P5,000 just to organize their classrooms. With that amount, only P25 will be allotted for each school day.)
Quetua also pushed for an increase in the teachers’ cash allowance, arguing that the learning materials needed have significantly changed over the years, the cost of which they are still shouldering.
“Hindi na lamang chalk at class record ang binibili ng guro ngayon. Nangungutang ang mga guro para makabili ng laptop, printer at projector dahil ito ang hinihiling ng aming trabaho. Gusto ng DepEd ng 21st century learning pero ang antas ng suporta sa guro ay pang 19 kopong-kopong pa. Dapat taasan ang cash allowance kahit man lamang P10,000,” he further explained.
(Chalk and class records aren’t the only materials teachers need nowadays. Some teachers borrow money just to buy laptops, printers and projectors since this is what is now required to fulfill their duties. DepEd is aiming to provide 21st-century learning, but the support it’s giving is still very nineteen hundred. They should at least increase the cash allowance by P10,000.)
ACT earlier pleaded for Congress and the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to heed their call for an increase in the education budget and wages for teachers to help them manage their current economic woes.
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