Press Release
January 12, 2009

ROXAS: IMPROVE DEFECTIVE EDUCATION SYSTEM
SEEKS HOUSE OKAY OF BILL INCREASING SALARY OF PUBLIC TEACHERS

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today pressed colleagues from the House of Representatives that instead of pursuing the Gloria Forever Constitution, they should prioritize measures seeking to improve the country's defective education system.

In particular, the senator is seeking priority action on the proposed Act Providing for Additional Support and Compensation for Educators in Basic Education (Senate Bill 2408), which was referred to the House for concurrence in July 31, 2008.

"Imbes na Cha-cha, pagtuunan natin ng pansin ang sektor ng edukasyon. Ayusin natin ang sistema ng ating edukasyon bilang sagot sa lumalalang problema ng kawalan ng oportunidad sa trabaho (Let us focus on our education sector. It is important that we fix our education system so we can address the worsening joblessness and lack of opportunities)," said Roxas, chairman of the Senate education committee.

"Hindi sagot sa ating mga problema, tulad ng lumalalang sitwasyon sa edukasyon, ang Gloria Forever Cha-Cha na itinutulak ng Malakanyang (This Gloria Forever Cha-Cha will not solve the problems of our country like worsening education outcomes)," he added.

The bill proposes a P9,000 additional compensation, to be given over a 3-year period in three tranches, to public school teachers, locally-funded teachers, non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education and Philippine Science High School teaching and non-teaching personnel.

It likewise seeks a P1,000 medical check-up annual allowance for covered beneficiaries and a Magna Carta bonus to public school teachers and non-teaching personnel of the DepEd.

The Ilonggo senator said it is important that government lure public school teachers to stay in the country through additional financial benefits, noting continued high demands for teachers abroad.

"Dagdagan natin ang sahod ng ating mga titser nang sa gayon ay hindi nila maisipang mag-abroad upang kumita ng mas malaki. Sa hirap ng buhay sa ating bansa, marami na ating mga guro ang umalis at nagtrabaho sa abroad. Kailangang gawan natin ng paraan na mahinto ito (Let us increase the salaries of our teachers so they will not be lured to go abroad. Many of our teachers have gone abroad because of the poor living conditions in our country. We have to stop this exodus)," he said.

Roxas at the same time urged the government to work hard in improving the country's education system to enable new graduates to become more competitive in the global job market.

He called for Senate action on his proposed Omnibus Education Reforms bill (Senate Bill No. 2294), which proposes reforms that would allow the education system to meet world standards, and said his committee would consult with involved agencies on the merits of the measure.

SB 2294 calls for, among others, the following:

  • A 10-year Strategic Education Reform Program designed by the DepEd;

  • Use of the mother tongue as medium of instruction for Grades 1-3;

  • A mandatory school-feeding program for Grades 1-2;

  • Periodic diagnostic tests to evaluate the performance of students;

  • Offering of electives to equip students with the necessary skills sets; and

  • Intensive training and upgrading programs for teachers.

"Umpisahan natin ang reporma sa sektor ng edukasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagtalakay ast pagpasa nitong Omnibus Education Reform. Makatutulong ito na matanggal na ang paghihirap ng ating mga kababayan. Dapat suportahan ito ng aking mga kasama sa Kongreso (Reforms in the education sector can begin by deliberating on and passing the Omnibus Education Reform bill. This will help remove the hardships of our people. This should be supported by my colleagues in Congress)," he said.

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