HOUSE Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has expressed support for the Department of Education’s recent decision to increase the Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) for qualified private school teachers, viewing it as a crucial step in advancing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s education reform agenda.

The DepEd recently announced that beginning School Year 2025-2026, the annual TSS for eligible private school teachers will be raised from P18,000 to P24,000.

Romualdez lauded the move as both timely and necessary, emphasizing its role in providing economic relief to private educators and strengthening efforts to foster a more inclusive and equitable education system.

“This increase in the annual TSS reflects the President’s unwavering commitment to elevating the quality of education nationwide by enhancing the welfare of our teachers,” Romualdez stated.

“Our private school teachers are vital partners in nation-building and in alleviating overcrowding in public schools. Supporting them through a salary subsidy hike means better learning outcomes for our students,” he added.

The subsidy benefits teachers in private schools participating in the Education Service Contracting (ESC) program under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education. These educators teach ESC student-beneficiaries for at least three hours a week, helping to decongest classrooms in public schools and expand educational access for students from low-income families.

Romualdez emphasized that the TSS increase is more than just a financial adjustment—it is a strong policy statement advocating for teacher equity.

Citing a 2023 survey, he noted that over 60% of private school teachers earn less than P 27,000 per month, which is the current entry-level salary for public school teachers.

“The government must address this inequality to ensure that all teachers, regardless of sector, are recognized and supported in their vital role of shaping the future of our nation,” he concluded.