Marcos vows 'proper compensation' for public school teachers 

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Thursday vowed for a more balanced and conducive work environment for public school teachers. 

Marcos made the commitment during the 2024 National Teachers' Day celebration in Cubao, Quezon City. He stressed that the government is committed to ensuring that teachers have ample resources to teach their students. 

''Public school teachers will be properly compensated once they exceed the prescribed six hours of classroom teaching every day. We are instituting these measures to foster a more balanced and conducive work environment for our public school teachers,'' Marcos said in his speech. 

He said he is in unity with Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara and other government agencies in improving the quality of education, upholding the rights of teachers, and adapting to the ever-evolving needs of the country's academic landscape.

Marcos then called on teachers to ''keep shaping our students who will not only face the uncertainties of today, but will also embrace the opportunities of tomorrow.''

''Our future rests in your hands,'' the President said.

Also in his speech, Marcos mentioned the expanded career progression (ECP) system for public school teachers. 

“This year, I signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations for Executive Order No. 174 to bring more opportunities for your career advancement and professional development. No public school teacher will be retiring as Teacher I anymore,” Marcos said. 

Marcos also cited efforts of the government to streamline the career path for public school administrators, which gives the teacher the choice to advance into leadership and management roles.

“With this flexibility to move between classroom teaching and school administration, you can grow professionally, explore new roles, and assume leadership positions,” Marcos said.

“It is not just a recognition of our teachers’ dedication but also a testament to our shared commitment to empowering our educators,” he added.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, the IRR of the ECP system for public school teachers was signed in July of this year, which outlines two distinct career paths for Filipino educators to pursue: the Classroom Teaching (CT) Career Line and the School Administration (SA) Career Line.

The new policy allows teachers to choose between advancing as classroom instructors or pursuing school administration. 

The PCO said that those who opt to remain in classroom teaching are ensured of advancement of stature and compensation.

Meanwhile, Marcos said his family was deeply connected with the teaching profession. He mentioned that his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, became a primary school teacher before. 

''Mayroon lang akong idadagdag pa na guro sa pamilya ko -- ang aking mother [former first lady Imelda Marcos]. Nag-start siya mula noong nag-graduate siya ng high school. Naging primary school teacher siya bago siya lumipat at nag-aral ng college,” the President said.

(I would just like to add a teacher in my family. My mother... She started when she graduated from high school. She became a primary school teacher before she transferred and entered college.)

“Pagkalabas niya ng college, ganoon din nagturo uli siya. Kaya’t talagang --- siyempre ang… Para sa amin malalim ang tradisyon ng edukasyon sa pamilya namin kaya’t napakalaking bagay po na ako’y makarating dito ngayong araw,” he added.

(After college, she was able to teach again. For us, education has a deep root in our family that's why it's a huge thing that I am here today.)

He also said that First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos was an educator herself, noting that she was part of the faculty of the Northwestern College in Laoag City.

“Nagsimula siya magturo dahil dati practicing lawyer siya pero nagsimula siyang magturo noong ako’y naging gobernador sa Ilocos Norte.  Nandoon siya sa Northwestern College doon sa Laoag,” the President said.

(She started to teach because before she was a practicing lawyer; but she started to teach when I was governor of Ilocos Norte. She taught in Northwestern College in Laoag.)

Marcos said his wife also goes to Iloilo weekly to teach. —LDF/VBL/RF, GMA Integrated News