Public school teachers’ P21K pay ‘not depressing’

Fa p s a :

AN association of private schools said the basic salary of public school teachers in the Philippines is “not depressing” as some of the private schools are still offering around P8,500 as entry-level salary.

The Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators ( Fapsa) issued this statement after teachers’ groups continued to call for a pay hike for public school teachers.

Fapsa President Eleazardo Ksilag said public schools teachers had become too complacent with annual pay increases.

“Again, the public school rallies are mounting for pay increase and even harassing the government for expeditious release of the increase. Worse, threatening to do a ‘sit-down strike’ soon,” he added.

did not want to wage war, but noted that public school teachers are wellprovided for as they receive several incentives such as cash allowance, proportional vacation pay, hardship allowance, honoraria for teaching overload, and additional incentives and allowances from local government units.

Citing President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent pronouncement on salary hike, Kasilag said the government was making public schools the “most lucrative profession,” while downgrading private schools as the poorest paying institution.

Duterte recently assured public school teachers that their salary will increase by about 35 percent and that this will soon take effect.

“It’s coming, their increases. But not doubled. There are a lot more teachers, my God. But it is forthcoming,” the President said upon his arrival from Russia last week.

Public school teachers’ groups, through staged several rallies in different parts of the country, have been demanding for a much-higher annual pay hike.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition has been asking for P10,000 across-the-board pay hike, while the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines has been calling for a P30,000-basic salary for the Tecaher 1 position, P16,000 as Salary Grade 1 and P31,000 for the Instructor 1 position.