MED I- 2ND SEMISTER

POLICIES, REGULATIONS, AND CURRENT ISSUES IN PHILIPPINE EDUCATION

DR. BERNARDITA F. BAUTISTA

Will Raising The Salary of Teachers Improve The Quality of Basic

Education?
TERMS:
Salary- an amount of money that an employee paid each month/year
Quality of Basic Education- enables people to develop all their attributes and skills to achieve their potential
as human beings and member of society.

-Teachers have an important role in Philippine society. In a country like the Philippines where education and learning are
legacies passed from one generation to the next, teachers are the key people in shaping and molding every generation.
Our public-school teachers labor under many difficulties.A public school teacher’s starting pay is at P20 754. This is not
commensurate to the dedication and passion that many of our teachers offer their profession.

If you look at the chart below,It is how the salary of a public school progressed in the past 5 administrations:

Last December 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law which increases the government workers’ pay (Salary
Standardized Law V) which the government workers’ salary will increased in 4 tranches starting 2020 until 2023.

Though this law was a blessing for government employees especially the teachers, some of them are not yet satisfy in SSL
V cause for them, The key of achieving Quality Basic Education to have salary increase up to P 10 000.

Will Raising The Salary of Teachers Improve The Quality of Basic Education?
Some teachers agrees, some also disagrees. As this issue goes by,here are interviews of some public school
teachers
AGREE:
“Yes, because the teacher kapag tumaas kasi yung sahod, mas maiinspire yan magtrabaho at ang mga teacher
kahit bigyan mo yan ng extra work, basta yung salary is enough, maiinspire at maiinspire yan magtrabaho
especially magfofocus nila yung ang mga bata”
- Laurence Zafra(SSH SST I, San Fabian Integrated School SPED Center, 2 years in service)

“Yes of course, for us teachers, despite of low salary we are very patient,obedient, dedicated, and loyal in our
teaching profession but however, the salary increase it will be great and successful to improve the quality of
basic eduation because we are now using technologies in moving forward of quality education and all the
reports are in form of technology and it cost expensive.”
-Marivic Cabinta( Teacher III, San Fabian Integrated School SPED Center, 37 years in service)

“Yes,it will help in improving the quality education since the teachers will be motivated intrinsically and hence
give a better a instruction to learners. Less pressure regarding finances will give more time to educate”
-Jhel Frances Pedeglorio(Teacher I, San Fabian Integrated School SPED Center, 4 months in service)

DISAGREE:
“Para sa akin No, kasi alam mo yung mga teachers na alam nan a tataas ang sahod,nailagay na nila sa empty
mass kung magkano na agad ag makukuha nila,nagenew na sila. kung wala sa puso mo ang pagtuturo,wala
talaga, nganga din ang mga bata”
-Joel Laguisma((Teacher I, San Fabian Integrated School SPED Center, 3 years in service)

“No, kasi teacher’s factor yan, kung willing ka talagang maimprove ang mga bata, may salary increase man o
wala, you will still give your best quality education to your pupils.
-Amabel Miranda (Master Teacher I, San Fabian Integrated School SPED Center, 18 years in service)
Whether you agree or not, always remember this;
“Every child should have the opportunity to receive a quality education.”

Reported by: JENINA L. DINAMPO