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Sen. Win Gatchalian wants review of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers
Sen. Win Gatchalian wants review of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has sought an inquiry on the government’s implementation of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers or Republic Act No. 4670.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Gatchailan said it is imperative to check if the law seeking to improve the living and working conditions of public school teachers are fully implemented.
Gatchalian said it has been 50 years since the law was passed but some of its provisions have not been implemented at all, while others are either partially or selectively enforced.
For instance, he said the law mandates that public school teachers are entitled to free and compulsory medical examination before they take up teaching but not all public school teachers are entitled to it.
The senator said the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the lack of health benefits for teachers and thus, threatens their health and welfare in the rollout of the government’s distance learning program.
“Sa gagawin nating pagsusuri, nais nating matukoy kung paano pa natin mapapaigting ang pagpapatupad ng Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, upang masiguro nating lubos na napapangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga guro (In conducting a review, we want to identify what mechanism to enforce to ensure that the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers are strictly implemented to ensure the welfare of our teachers),” he stressed.
Gatchalian said the law also mandates that public school teachers shall not render more than six hours of actual classroom teaching in a day.
He said it is important to check whether public school teachers are entitled to additional compensation if their work exceeds six hours a day and if they accomplish tasks outside their normal duties.
The lawmaker also said the law mandates that public school teacher salaries should be comparable with those of other professions where similar educational qualifications and training are required.
Yet despite their qualifications and the length of their service in government, Gatchalian lamented that public school teachers lag behind other government professionals, including their armed counterparts.