A group on Thursday expressed optimism that teachers will receive higher “chalk allowance” by 2021 to help them cope with the many challenges of teaching under the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), a 30,000-strong group, said that many of its members are anticipating bigger Cash Allowance, formerly called “chalk allowance”, next year as the Department of Education (DepEd) implements distance learning starting Oct. 5.
“We are now in initial phases, yet it could be seen that teachers will face yet a bigger challenge once the schooling formally resumes,” TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said. “Aside from the problems related to the modules, teachers will be needing electronic gadgets and internet connection- these are now essential,” he added.
Basas said that the allowance will alleviate "the financial problems of our public school teachers who are only receiving P3, 500 chalk allowance for the whole year.” The CA is intended for purchase of teaching materials. However, TDC lamented that the P3,500 CA is “only equivalent to P17 per day in a 200-day school year” prior to the pandemic.
The TDC is pushing for at least P1, 500 internet allowance and provision of laptop computers to all the teachers.