THE FEDERATION of Associations of Private Schools Administrators claimed that politicians are spoiling public school teachers with perks but neglect the parents who do half of the job of teachers.

FAPSA President Eleazardo Kasilag cited the case of one parent who had to quit her well-paying job to teach her children who cannot go to school.

“Indeed, it is double whammy since this time the parents are also the ones doing the hardest job of the classroom teachers,” Kasilag said.

He said parents are the frontliners this school year as they do half of the work of teachers and they are the ones directly involved in the education of their children.

“In fact, the DepEd teachers have been unloaded of heavy work. To prove this: DepEd lessened the most essential learning competencies from 14,000 to only 7,000; IATF requires work from home, no more face to face; no transport cost. No travel involved. Also, DepEd removes major exams, i.e., no more 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grading examinations. And there is a move that claims not to fail anyone. All these, unload the DepEd teachers of considerable challenging work for these were not there before Covid19,” Kasilag said.

He added that public school teachers still enjoy their monthly salary in full and were given their 13th month pay as early as April. DepEd still has to give their bonuses.

“Despite this, the DepEd teachers still complain of meager pay,” Kasilag said.

FAPSA said teachers enjoy the benefits of Senate Bill 1092 that gives them supplies allowance up to P10,000 for chalk, erasers, ball pens, pencils, etc. There is also House Bill 7744 or Teaching Supplies Allowance Act that gives allowance as high as P20,000. Also, there is House Bill 7799 or the Internet allowance for all public school teachers amounting to P1,500 monthly.

“Wow! FAPSA now asks, what is there for the parents who are now considered the substitute teachers at home? DepEd teachers do not need chalk because there is no face-to-face and they work from home. Also, what are the hazards paid for? Yes, the parents also need the internet allowance,” Kasilag said.

“The politicians spoil the teachers for what they want, not what they need. FAPSA appeals to kindly extend assistance to the parents. Remember, the parents are also voters themselves; they are more than DepEd teachers. FAPSA requests to give to the parents what they need,” he added.

“Our parents should not be delisted just as the government excluded the private schools from all these rewards. But do not do these to our FAPSA parents,” Kasilag said.

“You can give what DepEd teachers want but give the frontline parents what they need. The parents sacrifice a lot for they are not educators yet forced to do education work. That is a two-fold blow: nag resign na nga sa trabaho at tutok pa sa gawain ng guro,” he added.