Low compensation among teachers a continuing injustice in the Philippines

Receiving a low income has become a continuing issue in the Philippines as it barely supports one’s daily needs. This is painful for those who had barely finished college, but more so for degree holders.

Among the latter are teachers, whose average salary in private schools is around P14,000 a month. Compare that with an entry level public school teacher who makes some P27,000 monthly. Usually, to supplement their income, teachers resort to sidelines and small businesses, which is true in my hometown province of Masbate. In Masbate City, some public school teachers sell banana cue, ice candy, dried fish, and so on.

My mother is a public school teacher whose income can’t support our daily needs. We do have a boarding house and a school supplies store, but that’s not enough to support my college studies. For that, my mother takes out huge loans.

Loans are a painful reality that public school teachers here have lightened up by turning it into a joke. “Taga London,” they call each other, which stands for “loan dito, loan doon.”

Apart from the low salary, being a teacher is one of the hardest and most self-sacrificing jobs in the Philippines. Teachers often bring home their work, as checking papers and preparing lesson plans are usually done after their teaching chores.

The low pay for too much work has resulted in many Filipino teachers leaving their jobs. According to Devlin Peck in his Jan. 11, 2024 article titled, “Teacher Burnout Statistics: Why Teachers Quit in 2024,” 48 percent of teachers plan to quit because of the unrealistic compensation, while 42 percent have already left for the same reason. Dashed expectations are the second most common reason—33 percent plan on leaving, while 31 percent have left due to this.

And who can blame them? They need a job to support their families, and one that values their contribution to the education sector. Such factors lead to job satisfaction, which most of them don’t have.

Reviel Marc S. Dela Cruz,

student,

Arellano University Jose Abad Santos Campus