Marcos vows more benefits for teachers

TEACHERS will receive more benefits and support for career progression from the government as the country advances its efforts for the national learning recovery program, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed on Monday.

«As we build and upgrade schools, so too must we uplift and upskill our teachers, whose competence and trademark Filipino patience, determination and compassion will be at the core of our national learning recovery,» he said during his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Marcos said teachers would start receiving teaching allowance next year after the enactment of the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act.

They will also benefit from personal accident insurance from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Special Hardship Allowance, and the elimination of «utang-tagging» among teachers, he added.

«We have allocated funds to finally implement the expanded career progression system for our public school teachers, which shall promote professional development and career advancement within their ranks,» Marcos said, citing opportunities for both teaching and school administration tracks.

He noted that the move would accelerate the career growth of public school teachers alongside the recovery of the entire education sector.

«Sa sistemang ito, wala nang public school teacher ang magre-retire na Teacher I lamang. Sa madaling sabi, kung talagang gusto nating magtagumpay ang hinahangad nating pagbangon sa larangan ng edukasyon, sila, ang ating mga guro ang dapat nating itaguyod at patatagin (In this system, no public school teacher will retire as Teacher I. In short, if we truly want to succeed in our dream to help the education sector recover. They, our teachers, should be supported and strengthened),» Marcos said.

Besides teachers' welfare, Marcos underscored the need to calibrate the education system to capacitate learners not only in literacy but also in problem-solving and critical thinking.

«Our national learning recovery program must proceed without the slightest disruption, especially in basic education,» he said, citing low proficiency ratings of more than half of Grades 6, 10 and 12 students in the country.