Asturias town Mayor Alan Adlawan has opposed the idea of giving incentives to teachers who performed well, saying motivating teachers to be more committed in their job does not necessarily include monetary considerations.
Adlawan said that teachers were already paid by the government to do their job and giving them more incentives for a job well done is already too much.
He also criticized the Department of Education for giving the teachers many tasked aside from teaching.
“Teachers should be in the classroom, teaching their students,” the mayor said, adding teachers in far-flung barangays are even tasked to distribute rice and to report nutritional status, among others.
Serena Uy, Cebu province division schools superintendent, said DepEd is giving only productivity allowance to teachers at least P2,500 per month only if they performed well in school.
But Judiana Corriente, Toledo City division superintendent, said due to lack of constant supervision, all teachers, even if those who are not performing well, are receiving productivity allowance.
Corriente said “favoritism” is rampant and this has to be corrected and that only those who are performing well are entitled to receive incentives.
“Naay mga teachers nga magsigi lang ug text text bisan sulod sa klase. Pait kaayo ni sa tanan,” she said.
Corriente added that such scenario can also be blamed on some school administrators, who are very lax in disciplining their teachers. She suggested that school supervision must be done regularly.
Earlier, DepEd assistant regional director Ricarido Burgonia said the regional office is now preparing for the release of special hardship allowance to teachers in the region.
Under the guidelines issued by the Department of Budget and Management, the special hardship allowance is only granted to teachers or school heads/administrators who have been assigned to a difficult post, performing multi-grade teachings, and carrying out mobile teaching functions and non-formal education or alternative learning system. —Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM