Teachers seek fair promotion system

– Public school teachers want fair merit and promotion policies.

– The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition advocates for a promotion system based on teaching performance and dedication.

– The Career Progression Policy is supported as a means to promote equitable promotion for teachers.

A group of public school teachers called on Congress and the Department of Education to plan policies to ensure a fair and just merit and promotion system.

Benjo Basas, the national chairperson of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, said the DepEd’s promotion system should be made responsive to the needs of teachers and the education sector.

“Sabi po ng ating Saligang Batas 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. Pero kabaligtaran ang nangyayari, nagiging masigasig at masaya lamang ang mga guro sa mga unang taon ng pagtuturo, bandang huli ay bumababa na ang motibasyon,” Basas said.

“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 said.

They lamented that teachers who teach in remote areas are rarely recognized or rewarded.

There are also those who have no chance to be promoted because they have limited or no access to graduate schools.

“Tatanda na lamang ba sila at magreretiro bilang mga Teacher I? Sa palagay ko ay nakapa-unfair nito hindi lang para sa ating mga guro kundi pati na rin sa ating mga mag-aaral,” Basas said.

The TDC supports the Career Progression Policy.