Teachers’salary increase

IT WAS President Digong who said that he has the commitment to increase the salary of public school teachers before the end of 2019. The teachers are praying that this is not just another case of “slip of the tongue” or “slip of the mind” from the president.

The teachers are the best “work horses” of the government. They are involved during elections, in deworming activities, in monitoring the 4Ps program, in population census, in sports events, in the population program, and (as needed) to implement the programs and projects of the pol i t i ci ans.

Ralph Waldo Emerson commented, “A man’s profession is great, not because he can alter things to his benefit, but because he can bend another person’s mind and inflame his heart. Now who can do that, but a teacher? Who can enter into the deepest sanctuary of a person’s mind and heart to create a dialogue there, except the teacher?”

Teachers are lucky if they can have a take home pay of P5,000. As dignified professionals, they do not just teach but others are selling goodies, undies and other wares known to man. The private school teachers have also their own way to survive. One strategy is to transfer in the public school if there is a chance. Private schools are dependent on the tuition fees of their students.

The liberated teacher leaders are pushing for the additional ten thousand pesos to the basic salary in all salary grade levels. It is dreamed that the entry level for teachers should not be less than P30,000. This could compete with the salary level of a newly hired policeman.

Teachers should be allowed to enjoy overtime pay, monetization and the local government units are encouraged to give additional benefits to sirs and ma’ams. A classroom teacher can be Teacher 1 (salary grade 11), Teacher 2 (salary grade 12) and Teacher 3 (salary grade 13). That’s the end of it.