Solon pushes salary increase for K -12 teachers

Photo courtesy of Laguna School Systems

MANILA — Two lawmakers are now pushing for an increase in the basic pay of public school teachers in a bid to ensure that there will be enough tutors under the K to 12 (K-12) program of the Department of Education.

Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo and Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero are eyeing to increase the teachers’ basic pay from P18,000 to P28,000 and P30,000.

The amount is at par with the salary of college faculty members and nonteaching officials.

In a meeting with the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE), Romulo said “Congress is working to enact remedial measures to help mitigate the effects of K-12.”

He added that the move to increase teachers’ compensation will ensure that there will be enough teachers for higher grade levels.

Meanwhile, Escudero, widow of former legislator and FUSE president Salvador Escudero shared the government’s plan to hire 9,000 teachers and build 31,000 classrooms this year in preparation for the start of K-12.

Escudero also said that the lawmakers “are already looking at some ways to respond to these anticipated needs” of the K-12 program which adds two more years in high school.