Teachers keep idealism despite low pay

MANILA, Philippines - Skits showing teachers selling tocino to students may be exaggerated for some but they reflect a depressing reality. 

Many men and women who are molding the minds of future generations have to look for other income sources to make both ends meet.

Because they are underpaid, several teachers opted to go abroad to work as domestic workers or other occupations that do not suit their educational attainment.

Others who stayed are juggling many roles like tutor, parents, spouse and entrepreneur, proving once again that in the Philippines, being a teacher is more of a calling rather than a profession. 

One of them is Teacher V, who has been teaching in a local high school in Burgos, Pangasinan for two years now. 

Her passion for teaching came from her aunt, a teacher in a local elementary school in the province who supported her studies.

“I’m happy with my teaching job because I know that in my own way, I’m not just teaching my students. I’m also touching their lives and inspiring them,” Teacher V said.

Unfortunately, such disposition is not enough to provide the needs of her family.

Tough task

As a breadwinner, Teacher V had to budget P7,000 monthly earling for the daily expenses, medicines of her hypertensive father and the needs of her sister who is a graduating college student.

To augment her income, Teacher V ventured into tutoring services, something she did when she was still in college.

“I only allot one hour for tutorials after working in school to have time for myself and my family,” she said.

“I admit that it is stressful but it is manageable. I motivate myself by thinking that if I give up, my budget would not be enough for my family.”

Luckily for Teacher V, her husband has a stable job as a seafarer and their combined earnings enabled them to buy their own house.

Idealism and financial needs also prodded Evangeline Ilao, a college professor, to continue teaching even if she and her husband are already running a school.

Ilao, who is managing a school called Lightbearer Montessori School in Laguna, has been teaching for 17 years at the ICCT Colleges.

She had to assume the two roles so she could fulfill her passion while providing her children a decent life and quality education.

“In terms of balancing my work, it’s a simple matter of time management. I see to it that my daily activities are attended to.”

Overworked, underpaid

Teacher V and Ilao are among the thousands of teachers who returned to work this month to perform a fulfilling yet financially unrewarding job.

A look at government statistics will prove that teaching in the Philippines requires a lot of idealism and sacrifice.

Data from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) showed that teachers in the primary and secondary levels in the United States earn seven to eight times more than that of their Philippine counterparts.

NSCB noted that in 2008 and 2009, teachers in the US earn $35,000 to $45,000 while those in the Philippines earned $5,000 to $6,000.

The low pay prompted several teachers to seek greener pastures abroad, contributing to the already serious problem of brain drain.

“As a consequence, based on data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the United States figured as the top destination of teachers deployed abroad between 2005 and 2010,” NSCB said.   

Other top destinations of Filipino teachers are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and China.

The Philippines surpassed other countries in another education data but unfortunately, it was in the number of teaching hours.

Citing United Nations data for 2008 and 2009 that covered five countries, NSCB said the Philippines posted the second highest next to Indonesia in terms of average teaching hours per year of elementary teachers.

For the secondary level, the Philippines posted the highest in terms of teaching hours per day with an average of 4.5 hours. (See full NSCB report here - http://www.nscb.gov.ph/sexystats/2013/SS20130426_teacher.asp#tab8)

“Unless the need to provide our teachers with the needed skills and benefits and to sell out teaching as a viable and noble profession (is addressed), the government’s efforrs on education reforms… would still face challenges,” said NSCB Director-General Jose Ramon Albert. 

‘Don’t expect high salaries’

Carlos Manapat, an economics professor at the University of Santo Tomas, said teaching is a profession that needs a “long-term perseverance.”

“In the case of teachers, you can’t expect a high salary when you enter a public school just because you have a doctorate degree. That’s not the way it goes,” Manapat said.

He noted that teachers need to secure promotions to earn a salary that could sustain their families.

This, however, is easier said than done as it requires much investment like trainings and post-graduate studies.

“By the time you get to that (higher) position, you already have a big family,” Manapat said.

Manapat said teachers should consider setting up businesses or engaging in productive activities other than teaching.

Teachers who chose to stay put, however, believe that their work offers something that money cannot buy.  

“It’s not my income that counts, but my contentment as an educator,” Ilao said.