Filipino children currently have limited access to proper education. Fifty students are cramped into a classroom built to accommodate 30 students only. Most students lack many school materials needed such as notebooks, pencils, and even tables and chairs. These problems are exacerbated by the lack of teachers to guide these students.
Recently, Sen. Grace Poe expressed her desire to raise the salary of public school teachers in the country—from P18,549 to P25,000. At present, there is a phenomenon of teachers leaving the country to teach abroad for higher pay. According to Senator Poe, their current salary is “unable to ensure a reasonable standard of life for themselves and their families.” Hopefully, the raise in their salary will give the teachers a reason to stay as the country is in desperate need of their service.
As students, we see the effect teachers have on us. Not only do they guide us to acquire knowledge in subjects like math and science, they also nurture us and steer us in the right direction. They inspire us to do our best with their passion for teaching. Because of their dedication, we are motivated to maximize our potentials, and strive for excellence. What we learn from them is more than the core curriculum; they instill in us values that help us to become successful individuals.
With Senator Poe’s new proposal of increasing public school teachers’ salaries, there will be an incentive for teachers to remain in our country’s public school system instead of seeking work abroad. The teachers deserve a raise because they ought to get what they deserve not just for teaching, but more for touching lives.
—C. CANO, S. DAEZ, J. DIMAYUGA,
K. HABALUYAS, K. ROSAS,
Y. TRINIDAD