Government Confident About Pay Raise for Teachers
The newly appointed Education Secretary, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, has expressed confidence that teachers’ salaries will see a significant increase under the Marcos administration. Angara emphasized the importance of addressing the financial needs of teachers during an interview at Malacañang after his oath-taking ceremony.
“Yes, increasing teachers’ salaries is a constant need,” Angara stated. “The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is studying it. It’s just a matter of how much and when, but there will definitely be an increase.”
Salary Standardization Law 6 (SSL 6) to Bring Changes
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) recently shared an update on their Facebook page, highlighting a dialogue with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. According to ACT Teachers Party-list Chairman Antonio Tinio, there will be another round of salary increases for government workers, including public school teachers, under the planned SSL 6.
“SSL 6 will implement a salary increase retroactively from January 2024, with an estimated budget of P40 billion,” Tinio announced.
However, Tinio pointed out that the increase might not meet all their demands. “Even with SSL 6, it doesn’t fulfill our call for a P50,000 entry-level salary for Teacher 1 and P33,000 for Salary Grade 1 education employees. Our fight for better salaries continues.”
Push for Higher Entry-Level Salaries
Both the ACT and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) have been advocating for higher salaries: P50,000 for entry-level teachers, P33,000 for Salary Grade 1 employees, and P30,000 for those in Instructor 1 positions.
These groups are also urging the government to double the education budget starting in 2025 to meet international standards, which recommend spending equivalent to six percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) on education.
Current Salary Scheme Under Review
The current salary scheme under Republic Act 11466, also known as SSL 5, was implemented during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s term. This law raised the basic entry-level salaries of public school teachers to P27,000, but both ACT and TDC argue that this is still insufficient.
“SSL V places teachers at Salary Grade 11, the lowest among government professionals,” ACT and TDC stated. They are working with legislators to draft bills that would align teachers’ salaries with the standards set in the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, rather than relying solely on the SSL framework.
Conclusion
The Marcos administration is poised to bring positive changes for teachers’ salaries, with plans for significant pay raises under SSL 6. However, teachers’ groups continue to push for higher entry-level salaries and better compensation to match international standards. As discussions continue, the education sector remains hopeful for a brighter financial future for its educators.
