LAWS on EDUCATION in the PHILIPPINES / MAGNA CARTA for

TEACHERS
Anaroza Gutang

REFLECTION

Teachers have been tagged as the “Modern-Day Heroes’ long before the
Overseas Workers became honored as such. Teachers’ indispensable role in
education, the competence and integrity that teachers uphold as active community
involvement draw worthy admiration from the entire society.

As of the roles, educators deserve to be protected and be aware of the obligations

and duties to fight for the rights if needed. Thus, Magna Carta for Public School Teachers
or R.A. 4670 was established. It details the rights, privileges and benefits of teachers.

The rights and privileges of all teachers in the Philippines are as summed up as
follows: consent for transfer; safeguards disciplinary procedure; no discrimination;
married couples to be employed in the same locality; academic freedom; not more than 6
hours in actual classroom teaching; additional compensation for activities outside normal
duties; salaries comparable to other occupations to ensure teachers a reasonable standard
of life for themselves and their families; salaries appropriated by local governments not to
be less than those paid to teachers of the national government; cost of living allowance;
special hardship allowances; medical examination free of charge once a year during the
teacher’s professional life; prohibition of unauthorized deduction from teachers’ salaries;
study leave; indefinite leave; salary increase upon retirement and freedom to established
or join organization of their choice.

As a conclusion, we all have our rights. But not because we know that we have
rights, we can abuse it. We have rights to protect us, but we also have our obligations
towards our tasks. Rights and obligations play a key role in the society. It is these rights
and obligations that strengthen the society, giving it more stability.

Prepared by: Baby Lyn R. Pangantihon