A GROUP of public school teachers called on Congress and the Department of Education to formulate policies to ensure a fair and just merit and promotion system.

Benjo Basas, the national chairperson of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, said the DepEd’s promotion system should be made responsive to the needs of teachers and the education sector.

“Sabi po ng ating Saligang Batas dapat ang propesyon ng pagtuturo ay maging kaaya-aya sa mga pinakamahuhusay na guro at panatilihin silang masaya, masipag, kuntento at dedikado sa kanilang napiling bokasyon. Kaya dapat na mabigyan ng tamang kompensasyon, mga benepisyo at pagpapahalaga ang ating mga guro. Pero kabaligtaran ang nangyayari, nagiging masigasig at masaya lamang ang mga guro sa mga unang taon ng pagtuturo, bandang huli ay bumababa na ang motibasyon,” Basas said.

He decried the low pay, inadequate benefits and heavy workload carried by teachers.

“Ganito na nga ang kalagayan ay tila napakailap pa ng promosyon kay teacher. Limitado ang items gaya ng master teacher at head teacher. Kadalasan din ang sukatan ng promosyon ng mga guro ay ang naipasa niyang papel o report, diploma o post graduate studies units at hindi kung paano, saan at gaano ba siya katagal na nagturo,” he said.

The group lamented that teachers who patiently teach in remote areas or in last-mile schools are rarely recognized or rewarded.

There are also those who have no chance to be promoted because they have limited or no access to graduate schools.

“Tatanda na lamang ba sila at magreretiro bilang mga Teacher I? Sa palagay ko ay nakapa-unfair nito hindi lang para sa ating mga guro kundi pati na rin sa ating mga mag-aaral,” Basas said.

The TDC supports the Career Progression Policy that now has two versions, the DepEd version in accordance with former President Duterte’s EO 174 and the version of the legislature that is now being heard in the House Basic Education Committee. These policies seek to expand the positions of public school teachers.

However, the group backed the sentiment of the National Head Teachers Association of the Philippines that the Head Teacher position should not be removed. Both DepEd and House proposals state that new items will no longer be created when natural vacancies occur among incumbents.