Funds allocated for career growth of public school teachers — Marcos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday announced that the Philippine government has allocated funds for the implementation of the expanded career progression system for public school teachers.

In his speech during his third State of the Nation Address, Marcos said the system will promote the professional development and career advancement of public teachers.

“With this system in place, we will accelerate the career growth of teachers. Sa sistemang ito, wala nang public school teacher ang magre-retire na Teacher I lamang,” Marcos said before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

(With this system in place, we will accelerate the career growth of teachers. With this system, no public school teacher will retire a Teacher I.)

“Sa madaling sabi, kung talagang ninanais nating maging magtagumpay ang hinahangad nating pagbangon sa larangan ng edukasyon, sila — ang ating mga guro — ang dapat nating itaguyod at patatagin,” he added.

(In other words, if we really want to raise the quality of education, they — our teachers — are the ones that we should support and strengthen.)

Under the system, Marcos said teachers may either choose to pursue the teaching track or the school administration track.

He assured that both tracks have ample career growth opportunities.

National learning recovery program

Marcos also said that the national learning recovery program should proceed as soon as possible, citing recent assessments which showed that more than half of learners in grades 6, 10, and 12 have failed to reach the ideal proficiency levels and scored low in information literacy, problem solving, and critical thinking skills.

“Therefore, our national learning recovery program must proceed without the slightest disruption, especially in basic education. Our system of education must be strategically calibrated to make sure that our youth are not only taught to become literate, but [also] develop them into problem solvers and critical thinkers [who are] hungry for success and ready for the future,” Marcos said.

Aside from addressing the classroom gap, Marcos said that the digital gap should also be addressed with as much intensity.

“We are working towards a day when all students will be equipped with computers, smart TVs, essential programs, digital books, and once again, access to reliable power and the internet,” Marcos said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News