Let’s raise the monthly pay of our teachers

I’m glad that Education Secretary Leonor Briones is looking at the strong possibility of raising the monthly salary of our public school teachers. I truly believe that teachers are part of the unsung heroes of our country, along with doctors, nurses, policemen, etc. They are those who work hard despite difficult circumstances to try to make a difference in the lives of our people.

In fact, while the professions are all equally hard in their own way, I think it’s incredibly important what teachers do because they are there at the very beginning. They are the ones investing in our youth and making sure that they know they have hope for the future. They are the ones investing their time, their hard work, and their hopes in the children. And as cliché as this may sound – the children really are the hope of the future. The saying only became cliché because it’s true.

After all, education is still the first step toward securing a brighter future. Not just in the sense that you’ll get a diploma, but also in the sense that you learn what’s possible in the future. The steps you take in the classroom tend to be the first steps towards finding out what kind of person you are and what kind of life you want to lead. Learning is paramount in shaping a person and teachers have a direct hand in shaping that learning and inspiring our youth.

However, despite the crucial role they play in our society, teachers in the Philippines, especially those in the public sector, face the same challenges that most doctors, nurses, and policemen do. They want to do a good job and they are dedicated and passionate about their work, but they are on an uphill climb. It’s not easy being teacher. This is especially true for teachers who work in the province.

We’ve seen the heart-wrenching videos of children who walk and climb for hours just to get to the classroom for the lessons. The teachers do that too – traversing hills, and roads, and creeks to be able to teach their students. There are even several teachers who use their own pay, as small as it is, to buy additional materials for their classrooms for the benefit of their students.

I feel it would be right to raise their salaries as a way of saying we understand the hardships they face and that we are willing to do what we can to help. I know it’s a very tricky situation though. And I understand that it’s going to take some time to get through the planning, budgeting, and implementing. After all, the increase would require an additional 200 billion from the budget.

While that might not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of what our teachers do for the future of our country, the Department of Education says that it still has to consider how this will affect other departments and professions and how it would affect teachers in the private sector. Still at the end of the day, I think it’s important that we take this step and approve this proposal. It might be the important first step we need to take to give higher compensation to other professions that need it too like doctors, nurses, and policemen.

I know that the President gives this much importance. He promised as much in his campaign that he would focus on helping to uplift the lives of teachers and policemen and he is very vocal about wanting to make things better for the masses in the Philippines. Since he seems to be keeping his other promises I can only hope that he will keep this one as well. There has been much news about our Vice President Leni Robredo being worried about the alleged VP vote recount. And I can clearly understand why. Wounds are still so fresh from the recent burial of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in Libingan ng mga Bayani. Despite public protest and the atrocities of martial law, the former president was allowed to be buried among our country’s heroes with all the matching fanfare. And now, while we are trying to deal with that, it seems another Marcos still has his sights firmly set on the vice presidential seat. Ironic for someone who keeps telling the masses to “move on.”

I think Leni should be worried. I know I am. After all, all this burial business has done is prove to the people who powerful the Marcos family is with our current president and administration. When push comes to shove, it seems President Duterte will back Bongbong every time so is it that far-fetched to believe that he would stand by and let his friend steal the vice presidency? He already refers to him as “his vice president”. Is the alleged recount just a way to make it happen? And honestly if that were to happen how far-fetched again is it to think that President Duterte might not even finish his term and just turn the reins over to BBM, his trusted VP.

There is a lot of speculation going around now and I can only fervently hope that Vice President Robredo stays where she is. She was elected by the people and she serves as an important opposing voice to President Duterte in times when he really needs one. I think it has become exceptionally important for her to voice her opinions when things go off the rails. She is smart, strong, and most importantly, stands up for the people whose opinions our current president doesn’t represent.

We can only wait and see what happens. I pray that if ever there is a recount that it is fair, free from underhanded plots and devices, and is truly transparent. We are all invested in the outcome.