TO STEM the exodus of private school teachers to public schools, Parañaque City 2nd District Rep. Joy Myra Tambunting filed a bill that seeks to provide a level playing field for professional teachers in both public and private institutions.

In filing House Bill 7824 or the proposed Teachers’ Salary Act of 2020, Tambunting said private school teachers usually transfer to public schools for economic reasons.

“While it is understandable to incentivize teaching in the public schools, the government should also look into the welfare of the teachers in private schools,” she said in her explanatory note.

Tambunting stressed that licensed teachers, whether in public or private schools, perform a public function which is to deliver education to the Filipino youth.

House Bill 7824 mandates the Department of Education to develop mechanisms for quality standards in the review and endorsement of adjustment of salaries of public school teachers under the Salary Standardization Law.

Under the bill, a Private School Teachers Salary Subsidy program will be created wherein the salaries of qualified and licensed professional teachers in DepEd-recognized private basic education institutions shall be included in the agency’s annual budget.

“The Private Education Assistance Committee-Fund Assistance to Private Education shall administer the PTSS Program in order to ease the administrative burden from the DepEd,” the lawmaker said.

The measure also requires teachers from the private schools to finish their employment contract before transferring to public schools.