Esson: The Rights and Privileges of Teachers in The Philippines
Esson: The Rights and Privileges of Teachers in The Philippines
TOPIC
The Rights and Privileges of Teachers in
the Philippines
LEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of the lesson, you should be
able to discuss the rights and privileges of
teachers in the Philippines
“To deny people their human rights is to deny their very humanity.”
- Nelson Mandela
After having learned the demands that learners, parents, school officials, the academic
community, the larger community and the state put on teachers, let us discuss their
rights and privileges.
Republic Act 232, otherwise known as the “Education Act of 1982” was signed into law
by the then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Sections 10, 11, and 16 of this law are
helpful in understanding the rights and duties of teachers. It discusses the system of
education in the Philippines.
It was when President Marcos issued Presidential Decree 1006 on September 22, 1976
when the National Board for Teachers was formally organized. This was the first board
to supervise the teaching profession in the country. All teachers back then have to take
the Professional Board Exam for Teachers (PBET).
On December 16, 1994, through the enactment of Republic Act 7836, a law entitled “An
Act to Strengthen the Regulation and Supervision of the Practice of teaching in the
Philippines and Prescribing a Licensure Examination for Teachers and for Other
Purposes,” otherwise known as the “Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of
1994,” dictated that regulation and licensing of teachers was transferred to the
jurisdiction of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC). This made the teaching
profession or teachers equal or at par with other professionals such as medical doctors,
engineers, lawyers, and nurses, among others.
R.A. 7836 also includes the supervision and regulation of the Licensure Examination for
Teachers (LET). It covers all teachers in all levels of education, from preschool to
secondary, whether part-time of full-time.
Section 15, (e) (3) of R.A. 7836: Qualification Requirements of Applicants- A Graduate of
a school, college, or university recognized by the government and possesses the
minimum educational qualifications, as follows:
Republic Act No. 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers states the
following rights, privileges, and benefits of teachers such as:
Academic freedom particularly with regard to teaching methods
The right to be free from compulsory assignment not related to their duties
defined in their appointment or employment contracts unless given additional
compensation
Freedom from involuntary contributions
Compensation for employment injuries in accordance with existing laws
Establishing, joining, maintaining labor organization of their choice to promote
their welfare and defend their interest
Employment in the same locality for those who are married whenever possible
The salary scales appropriated by a city, municipal, municipal district, or
provincial government that are not lower than those provided for teachers of
the National Government
Special hardship allowances equivalent to at least twenty-five percent of their
monthly salary for those who qualify
A study leave for not more than two school years after ten years of teaching
A study leave of more than one year provided permitted by the Secretary of
Education but without compensation
An indefinite sick leave of absence when the nature of the illness demands a long
treatment that will exceed one year at the least
One range salary raise upon retirement for those who have fulfilled the age and
service requirements of the applicable retirement laws which shall be the basis
of the computation of the lump sum of the retirement pay and the monthly
benefits thereafter
Those who teach in multi-grade classes, mobile teachers and Non-formal
Education or Alternative Learning System (ALS) Coordinators are entitled to
hardship allowance.
Stability of employment and security of tenure under existing laws
Safeguards in the disciplinary procedure
Consent for transfer
No discrimination
Married couples to be employed in the same locality
Not more than six hours of actual classroom teaching
Additional compensation for activities outside normal duties
Salaries comparable to other occupations to insure teachers a reasonable
standard of life for themselves and their families
Salaries appropriated by local governments not to be less than those paid to
teachers of the national government
Cost of living allowance
Medical examination free of charge once a year
during the teacher’s professional life
Prohibition of unauthorized deduction from
teacher’s salaries
Salary increase upon retirement, and
Freedom to establish or join organization of
their choice
These show that the welfare of professional teachers has been given much attention.
After all, there is no truth to what is often said about teachers “overworked and
underpaid.”
Activity 1
1. What are the positive and the negative practices on the systems of hiring, promotion,
and tenure of public school teachers?
2. Interview a public school teacher. What are the benefits that he/she is receiving from
the government?
3. If you are to add more rights, privileges and benefits to be accorded to teachers, what
would they be?
Activity 2