Tell it to SunStar: The unfair struggle of public school teachers

By Giel Eduard Acot Orillosa
Tell it to SunStar: The unfair struggle of public school teachers
Tell it to SunStar.
Published on: 

Teaching is often called the most noble of professions. Teachers shape young minds, build the future, and dedicate their lives to education. However, in the Philippines, public school teachers face many struggles that make their profession difficult. Despite their dedication, they experience slow career growth, unfair promotion systems, and too many barriers in their work.

One of the biggest problems teachers face is the slow promotion process. In many companies, employees get promoted in one to two years if they perform well. However, for Filipino public school teachers, it takes about 15 years to move from Teacher I to Teacher III. That is an extremely long time. To put it in perspective, in 15 years, a student can complete kindergarten, elementary, high school, and even two years of college. Yet, within that same period, a teacher is still struggling to move up just two levels in their career.

The situation gets even worse after reaching Teacher III. To be promoted to Master Teacher I, a teacher has to wait another 11 to 20 years. By the time they receive this promotion, their former students would have already graduated from college, found jobs, and even started families. This slow system does not reward teachers for their hard work and dedication. Instead, it discourages them from staying in the profession.

Because of this long wait, some teachers choose to take administrative positions just to have a better salary and career growth. However, not all teachers are suited for administrative roles. Some of them are more skilled in teaching and prefer to stay in the classroom, but the system forces them to make difficult choices. This is unfair because every teacher deserves a chance to grow and be recognized for their hard work.

Another problem teachers face is the lack of support from the government. Education budgets are often cut, making it harder for teachers to do their jobs effectively. They have to deal with old classrooms, broken chairs, and a lack of teaching materials. Many teachers even spend their own money to buy supplies for their students. Despite these hardships, they continue to teach with passion and dedication.

The report from the Second Congressional Commission on Education highlights these problems. It seems to send the message that if someone wants career growth, they should not become a public-school teacher. This is a sad reality. Teaching should be a rewarding profession, not one that discourages talented and passionate individuals.

The government must take action to solve these problems. They should create a faster and fairer promotion system for teachers. There should also be more support for public schools so that teachers can focus on their work without unnecessary struggles.

Filipino teachers deserve better. They play an important role in shaping the future of the country. If the government truly values education, they must also value the teachers who make it possible. It is time to give teachers the respect, support, and career growth they rightfully deserve.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.

Videos

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph