‘Fair and just’ promotion of teachers urged
A TEACHERS’ group urged Congress and the Department of Education (DEPED) to formulate policies that would ensure a “fair and just” promotion system amidst the House Committee on Basic Education hearing on the proposed Career Progression System for public teachers yesterday.
According to Benjo Basas, national chairperson of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC),, the DEPED promotion system should be made responsive to the needs of teachers and the education sector.
“Sabi po ng ating Saligang Batang dapat ang propesyon ng pagtuturo ay maging kaaya-aya sa mga pinakamahuhusay na guro at panatilihin silang masaya, masipag, kuntento at dedikado sa kanilang napiling bokasyon. Kaya dapat na mabigyan ng tamang kompensasyon, mga benepisyo at pagpapahalaga ang ating mga guro,” Basas said.
Basas stressed that the low pay and inadequate benefits as well as heavy workloads and the unjustified clerical tasks rob teachers of quality time.
“Ganito na nga ang kalagayan ay tila napakailap pa ng promosyon kay teacher. Limitado ang items gaya ng master teacher at head teacher. Kadalasan din ang sukatan ng promosyon ng mga guro ay ang naipasa niyang papel o report, diploma o post graduate studies units at hindi kung paano, saan at gaano ba siya katagal na nagturo,”he added.
According to the group, proper reward and recognition are not given to teachers in remote areas or in last-mile schools, where they are most needed but who have no chance to be promoted because they have limited or no access to graduate schools.
These are the reasons why TDC supports the Career Progression Policy that now has two versions — the DEPED version in accordance with former President Duterte’s EO 174 and the House version.
However, TDC joins the sentiment of the National Head Teachers Association of the Philippines (NaHTAP) that the Head Teacher position should not be removed because of their important roles and functions in public schools.
Both the DEPED and House proposals state that new items will no longer be created when natural vacancies occur among incumbents.
