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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Group hopes for full implementation of teachers' Magna Carta in the next admin

Group hopes for full implementation of teachers' Magna Carta in the next admin

Published Jun 1, 2022 06:29 pm

A group urged the incoming leadership of the Department of Education (DepEd) to fully implement the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers --- a vintage law that supports the welfare of public school teachers.

(DepEd file photo)

“The full implementation of the Magna Carta for Teachers may not totally eliminate the ills of the education sector but it will greatly contribute to solving the problems,” Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) National Chairperson Benjo Basas said in a statement issued Wednesday, June 1.

Basas also expressed hope that the incoming DepEd Secretary, Vice President-elect Sara Duterte, will also “give her full attention to this specific concern.”

The Magna Carta for Public School Teachers or Republic Act (RA) 4670 was enacted in 1966. Basas said that the law is considered the “bible” of the Filipino teachers for its clear and explicit support to ensure their welfare.

However, Basas lamented that many of the law’s provisions were “left unimplemented” since it was enacted over five decades ago.

“Our teachers do not enjoy the honoraria for teaching overload or the overtime pay as stipulated in the Magna Carta,” Basas said.

In particular, Basas noted that while there is a special hardship allowance (SHA) but it is “implemented incorrectly.”

Contrary to the mandate of the Magna Carta that 25 percent shall be the minimum, TDC said that the current implementation of SHA is based on a circular issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) which says that the “maximum amount” shall not exceed 25 percent of a teacher’s monthly salary.

Aside from those provisions, the Magna Carta ensures other benefits such as consent for transfer and transportation allowance, salary increment from lowest to highest within a maximum period of ten years, paid study leave for those who served for seven years, and criteria set for determination of salaries.

All of those provisions, TDC said, are “either not implemented or implemented but only in part.”

Basas and his group also underscored the DepEd’s obligation to provide medical care for its teachers which is another mandate of the Magna Carta stipulated in Sections 22 and 23.

“Crucial at this time of pandemic are the provisions for free and compulsory medical examination, treatment and hospitalization, and compensation for injuries,” Basas said.

“These important provisions are not implemented even in the time of pandemic when the teachers need it most,” he added.

Basas said that DepEd, however, gave one-time assistance worth P500 for teachers’ medical examinations for the year 2022.

The TDC has been lobbying for the full implementation of the welfare provisions of the Magna Carta --- the advocacy that propelled the group’s formation in 2006.

Related Tags

benjo basas magna carta for public school teachers teachers dignity coalition (TDC) deped education Sara Duterte teachers
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