Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Education chief cites role of teacher training institutions
STRESSING the importance of teacher training institutions in the efforts to improve basic education in the country, Education (DepEd) Secretary Jesli Lapus addressed members of the Philippine Normal University (PNU) community as they celebrated its 105th Founding Anniversary at the PNU Theater in Manila Monday.
As the affair's keynote speaker, Lapus stressed the role that teacher training institutions play in the improvement of teachers in the field. "While we look at ways to solve this education crisis, we ask you to continue the good work you do in the service of public education-provide better pre-service training, better in-service interventions, and better research and pedagogical practices-so our teachers can cope with the new requirements of our times," Lapus said.
Lapus also emphasized the need to instill professional and personal integrity of teachers by giving them the recognition and the benefits that they deserve, starting with the passing of the supplemental budget, wherein a significant portion will be used for the payment of unpaid teacher benefits.
"As we endeavor to improve the welfare of the Filipino teacher-from better salaries and benefits to getting the public recognition all Filipino teachers deserve-we continue to rely on her nobility to get us out of this education crisis," Lapus said. "With the passing of the supplemental budget, we expect to pay unpaid step increments and other benefits for teaching and non-teaching personnel as well provide for the annualization of salaries and other compensation benefits."
In addition, Lapus also expressed hope that through the passing of the proposed Salary Standardization Law, which will be endorsed by Malacañang in October, the salaries of all teachers in the public service will dramatically increase from no less than 50 to as much as 100 percent.
In closing, Lapus enjoined everyone to work with the department in its efforts to take the country out of its present basic education crisis.
"Your commitment and the commitment of all other education stakeholders to the pursuit of excellence shall be our strongest weapon against the many obstacles we will face in the coming years. It will enable us to get our schools out of this crisis and provide better futures for the millions of Filipino children we have all vowed to educate, nurture and protect," he said. (Press release)
(September 5, 2006 issue)
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