A group of education workers claimed that the living standards of teachers as well as their families have “practically deteriorated” in the last few years.
For the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines Raymond Basilio, one of the contributing factors here is the “growing discrepancy” of teachers’ pay compared to their counterparts --- particularly in the uniformed personnel and nursing profession.
“The living standards of our teachers and their families have practically deteriorated in the last years as, amid the soaring prices and additional health costs during the pandemic, teaching expenses have significantly increased with the government’s failure to provide for the needs of remote learning,” Basilio said.
Basilio pointed out that entry-level salaries of military and police personnel are at P29,668. The salary of those under the Nurse I position is set to a monthly gross pay of P35,097 this 2022.
However, he lamented that those that hold the Teacher I position will receive a “measly” P25,439 as monthly salary.
Given this, the group hit the measly salary adjustments for 2022 under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) V.
This, the group said, exposed the imminent meager increases that have already been canceled out by the three-year high 4. percent inflation rate by the end of 2021.
Based on its computations, ACT pointed out that more than 90 percent of public school teachers who occupy Teacher I, II, and III positions will receive 5.4 percent to 6.5 percent gross pay hikes starting January 2022.
However, ACT said that with “increased tax deductions and mandatory contributions,” these teachers will only get to take home net pay increases of 2.8 percent to 5.3 percent that is “insufficient” to cover the price hikes in commodities and services.
Meanwhile, the group slammed the Duterte administration for not prioritizing the needs of teachers. “With his broken promise of doubling teachers’ salaries, our mentors are as underpaid and as debt-strapped as ever,” Basilio said.
Given this, the group reiterated its challenge to presidential candidates to lay down their platforms for the education sector and support teachers’ and education workers’ demands for better pay and benefits.
Basilio said that the issue of salary would be a “significant consideration” for teachers in their 2022 electoral choices.
“Come May 2022 elections, the teachers will be wiser to vote for those who have concrete platforms for salary upgrading and the betterment of the education sector, as well as the integrity and track record of making good on their words,” Basilio said.