QUEZON CITY — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has vowed to ensure that public school teachers are amply provided to carry out their vocation and empower them to transform their lives to become a more resilient sector.
In his speech during the 2024 National Teachers’ Day Celebration in Quezon City on Thursday, October 3, President Marcos said, “We are committed to ensuring that you have ample resources to teach—whether by additional materials, reducing non-teaching—and/or reducing non-teaching responsibilities.”
The president highlighted significant measures the government has undertaken to transform the lives of over 860,000 public school teachers.
He cited Executive Order No. 174, which established the Expanded Career Progression System (ECPS) for public school teachers. This policy allows them to pursue either the teaching or leadership track as they get higher positions.
He also mentioned the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, allotting a tax-free teaching allowance of P5,000 this year for the purchase of teaching supplies and materials, but he said he will double the amount in the next school year.
“Sa aming pananaw, hindi—ang tingin namin hindi ito financial aid—this makes sure and ensures that you have the tools that are necessary for your effective teaching,” he said.
Teachers are also included in the increase of salaries of government employees and delivery of a medical allowance worth P7,000 under Executive Order No. 64.
Efforts to ensure fair and equitable distribution of teaching load are also in place through the issuance of the DepEd Order No. 005, series of 2024, according to President Marcos.
“Public school teachers will be properly compensated once they exceed the prescribed six hours of classroom teaching every day,” he said. “We are instituting these measures to foster a more balanced and conducive work environment for our public school teachers.”
“So, as we lay down the groundwork for a more resilient sector, I enjoin DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, along with our government agencies, to continue improving the quality of education,” the president said. (PIA DMD)