Villanueva wants more allowances for teachers, non-teaching staff

(FILE) Students and teachers at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City conduct a dry run of face-to-face class in this photo taken on February 8, 2022, to familiarize the students on the new rules in the conduct of classroom learning in the time of the pandemic.  INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — With the start of School Year 2022-2023, Senator Joel Villanueva has filed bills giving teachers and the non-teaching staff in public or state-run schools more allowances for the purchase of basic items, as well as to pay for medical and transportation needs.

In a statement on Sunday, Villanueva said he filed Senate Bill No. 564  sought to provide grocery, medical, and transportation allowances for teaching and non teaching personnel in public basic education schools Senate Bill No. 565 which in turn includes teaching personnel in state universities and colleges (SUCs), and state-run technical vocational institutions (TVIs).

Villanueva said the bills were filed to uplift the condition of educators with the opening of the new school year.

“A salary upgrade is ideal which we will continue to push.  But a realistic measure that may be immediately addressed would be an increase in the allowance of public school teachers, including those in SUCs and TVIs,” said Villanueva.

“We must pay our teachers for what they are worth given the responsibility they carry on their shoulders — our children’s learning and future,” he added.

Meanwhile, Villanueva also called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that the opening of classes will be matched with the readiness on the ground of the facilities, teachers and students.

Villanueva added that the issues of incomplete learning materials and classroom shortage must now have been resolved as assured by the DepEd.

The senator also urged students, teachers, and school staff to strictly observe minimum health standards as the threat of COVID-19 remains.

RELATED STORIES:

DepEd: 46% of schools ready for in-person classes, 5 days a week

DepEd urged: Prioritize education sector’s COVID-19 recovery, open up all schools

DepEd eyes blended learning as permanent mode of instruction

/MUF