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Gladys Starr T.

Gio MPA-OM

Teachers: Salary Hike is not all About the Money But our Dignity

“As Education secretary and as an advocate, I am committed to the policy


to promote and improve the social and economic status of public school
teachers, their living and working conditions, and their terms of employment. I
am in full support of the president’s pronouncement to raise the salaries of
teachers,” -Briones. (Philstar, June 7, 2019)

As call for salary hikes welcomed this school year’s opening of classes,
Education Secretary Leonor Briones reminded teachers especially those in
public schools that teaching – as a profession – was “not all about the money.”
(Manila Bulletin, June 5, 2019) Briones, along with other officials of the
Department of Education (DepEd), welcomed the first day of School Year (SY)
2019-2020 in two public schools in the National Capital Region (NCR). As part
of her school visit in some schools, DepEd officials led by Briones held a
“kumustahan” with some teachers. During the dialogue, she conversed with
the teachers and delivered updates on the DepEd’s initiatives to improve their
welfare. The teachers, on the other hand, presented some of their concerns
including the updates on salary increase, the Government Service Insurance
System (GSIS) loans and other benefits. Responding to the query on salary
increase, Briones reiterated her stand on the issue: salary increase for
teachers should be “carefully studied” since it would cost the government
P150 billion for a P10, 000 – pay hike.

As a public finance expert, she explained to the teachers that increasing


their salaries would also mean that the government would need to hike the
pay of other government workers or the entire civil sector. Briones noted that
the department continues to push for initiatives that will improve the welfare
of teachers. While recognizing that some teachers have to struggle with their
economic conditions, she reminded them not to forget the reason why they
chose the teaching profession. She also urged them to “stay true to their
commitment to public service” because “you are teachers.” “Right now, you are
ashamed because of your salaries,” Briones told the teachers. “But, you have
to be proud that you are teachers” – noting Filipino teachers are well-loved not
only here in the Philippines but by other nationalities in other countries as
well.

It has been all over the town that teaching is the noblest profession
among all the profession since all professionals underwent their education
with a teacher, it is the parent of all professions. Teachers teach us almost
everything – from the preparations for the school exams to become somebody
with a title someday. It is in a teachers’ hand to shape the future of our kids
and the next generation. With all these contributions of teachers in the
society, teachers shout for a salary hike.

“Teaching was not all about money”, as the answer of Secretary Briones
to the queries of teachers. Indeed teaching was not all about money but it is
our dignity. Teachers don’t ask for a salary increase because they were
entitled as the noblest profession. We, teachers, ask for a salary hike because
of the demands that we need to address not only with our personal need but
with students’ needs inside the classroom.

How can a teacher feed the mind of the young ones if we can’t actually
feed our family? How can we address the needs of the students, if we cry for
financial help? For us, teachers, it was never an issue to use our personal
money for the improvement of the classroom – from repainting and repairing
the walls and chairs, annual overhaul decorations and all the stuff that
needed to be done which is mandated by the Department of Education. Even
the needs of the students such as food, uniform, medicine and other stuff are
being addressed by the teachers which may not understand by many. It was
a wound that never heals when a student write an excuse letter for not
attending school because they have no food to eat. It was a heartache to hear
the reason why he can’t attend school anymore because he/she needs to work
in a farm or a construction site or to be a “kasambahay” to feed their family.
If only teachers can afford to shoulder the expenses of all her/his students so
that these students can attend the school and shape their own future. It’s not
a matter of “they wouldn’t” but more of “they couldn’t”.
While others sit and watch a movie on an office hours, we teachers sit
for checking, reviewing, making instructional materials, downloading video
presentations and doing paper works required by other government offices.
Not all teachers received a hazard pay and transportation allowance for home
visitations to check out for the students who missed their classes for a period
of time and to do mapping or barangayan looking for students who are not
enrolled as a response for the act of Department of Education – that every
Filipino child must be in school. If only the non-teaching agencies of the
government and non-government employees can look into these and try to fit
in a teachers’ shoe.

As a proud public teacher, we always uphold the public interest over


and above our personal interest. We choose to understand rather than to
outstand. Teaching is not a job that one chooses to be rewarded by monetary.
Instead, it is a calling that is chosen for the rewarding feeling of knowing that
it is the most effective, and most enjoyable way one can change the world.

Therefore, if teachers are noble enough to sacrifice such a huge aspect


of their lives just to make sure the betterment of the lives of the future
generations, then, don’t you think they should be paid what they deserve?

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