by Lorie Ann A. Cascaro
The Philippine government’s plan to implement the universal preschool system this year in line with its “Education for All” policy may not be a solution to the deepening crises in the education sector, nor is it an assurance to achieve quality education.
The national secretary general of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), France Castro, said the group is apprehensive about the government’s capacity to accommodate additional enrollees without sacrificing the quality of education.
“We have shortages in facilities and classrooms at present, what more if we implement this new program? Definitely, additional students will mean the need for additional school buildings, instructional materials and additional teachers,” she said.
Despite hailing this move of the government, teachers worry that the department of education (DepEd) is not ready for it, according to Benjie Valbuena, ACT vice president.
To serve the target 2.5 million students, the government will have to hire about 30,000 teachers who will teach six hours a day, just like regular teachers, and handle 45 students per class, Castro said.
“Each of these teachers will receive an honorarium of P6,000 a month, way below the minimum wage,” she added. ACT proposes that these teachers receive regular employment and just compensation within the Salary Standardization Law.
“This would mean that DepEd will be the biggest employer of contractuals. At present nationally-paid kindergarten teachers are already paid an honorarium of P6,000 a month which is usually delayed up to six months,” Castro said.
In Davao City, pre-school teachers also experienced delays in salary up to seven months last year, said Kahugpungan sa mga Magtutudlo ug Kawani sa Edukasyon sa Mindanao (KAMKEM-ACT) chairperson, Elenito Escalante.
“Wala pa gani natubag ang dugay na nga problema sa kakulangan sa teachers ug classrooms, ug kaubos sa suhulan sa mga teachers, magdungag na hinuon og tuig?” he said.
“The government should first address the crisis in education by sincerely prioritizing the education sector,” Escalante said. Funds from the public-private partnership funds, the conditional cash transfers, and foreign debt payments may be re-aligned through new legislation, Valbuena said, to augment the budget for education.
“Granting our pre-school teachers with what is rightfully due them and provision of appropriate facilities for this program will allow conditions for quality education,” he added.
“They will take on the great responsibility of molding the minds of kids who will be undergoing transition from home to the commencement of formal schooling. It is justified therefore that these co-teachers receive the right pay and have job security,” Castro said.
