The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) acknowledges the Senate Basic Education Committee, under the leadership of its Chairperson, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, for initiating this oversight effort to address the pressing issues in the teaching profession. This is vital to ensuring that policies governing teacher education and welfare are not only effectively implemented but also responsive to the actual needs of educators nationwide.

However, if the government is truly determined to fulfill the Constitutional mandate of attracting and retaining the best available talents in the teaching profession, it must take decisive action to address the socio-economic conditions of teachers comprehensively. For far too long, these issues—such as inadequate compensation, heavy workloads, and limited access to professional development—have hindered the teaching profession from becoming a viable and attractive career option for the country’s brightest minds.

Teachers’ welfare and professional growth are not just complementary to the goal of quality education; they are its very foundation. Without a deliberate and well-funded strategy to uplift the teaching profession, any effort to reform education will remain insufficient and unsustainable.

The TDC strongly recommends the following measures to achieve these goals:

1. Incentivize the brightest students who choose to enroll in education programs through accessible and adequately funded scholarship opportunities, ensuring that future teachers are among the best and most capable individuals.
2. Institutionalize specialized courses and programs tailored for aspiring teachers, particularly those designed to address specific skills and competencies needed in 21st-century classrooms.
3. Provide non-monetary benefits to teachers, such as affordable housing programs, free or subsidized postgraduate education, comprehensive health and wellness services, and other forms of social support.
4. Establish a transparent and accessible system of merit and promotion, coupled with an honest-to-goodness Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program that genuinely contributes to teachers’ growth without becoming a financial burden.
5. Substantially increase entry-level salaries for teachers and introduce a separate compensation system that reflects the vital role of educators in nation-building, ensuring competitive remuneration at all career levels.
6. Create a robust system of technical and material support for Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) in regional and provincial areas, enabling them to deliver high-quality training and resources to future teachers.
7. Provide greater subsidies to Centers of Excellence (COEs), particularly to the Philippine Normal University (PNU), as the National Center for Teacher Education (NCTE), recognizing its critical role in teacher education and training.

These measures are not mere aspirations—they are necessary investments to secure the future of education in the country. Without addressing these fundamental issues, the government’s initiatives, including RA 11713, will inevitably fall short of their objectives. It is time to move beyond rhetoric and translate policies into tangible actions that genuinely uplift the teaching profession, foster excellence in education, and strengthen the foundation of the nation’s development.

The progress of our nation is intrinsically tied to the strength of our education system, which in turn relies heavily on its most vital component—the teacher. Without well-prepared, highly motivated, and adequately supported teachers, no education reform or initiative can succeed in achieving its intended impact on national growth and development.

For details:

Benjo Basas, National Chairperson
09273356375