EDITORIAL - Thank you, teacher

To mark Teacher’s Month, the Department of Education has come up with a pin declaring, “Thank you, teacher.” Considering the work educators put in, the words of gratitude are much deserved, although teachers will appreciate even more an improvement in their modest earnings.

The entry-level basic pay for public school teachers is now about P18,000 a month. Combined with about P2,000 in benefits, the salary has become attractive enough to reverse the trend of teachers transferring from public to private schools. With tens of thousands of additional teachers hired every school year, the workload has also eased for teachers especially in the most crowded public schools, where classes are held in three shifts daily to accommodate all the students.

With the kind of work required, the compensation is still not enough. In the country’s conflict areas, teachers are favorite targets of violent extremists. They have been held hostage, raped and decapitated by terrorists. And yet schools continue to operate in these conflict zones, with teachers prepared to place their lives on the line knowing that these are the areas where their services are most needed.

Teachers play a crucial role in national competitiveness. It is no coincidence that the quality of Philippine education started deteriorating with the exodus of public school teachers for better paying jobs overseas. Many preferred to work as nannies abroad rather than teach in their own country.

Because of the work involved and modest pay, teaching in the Philippines entails sacrifice and dedication to service. In certain cases, teachers play a greater role than parents in preparing a child for life’s challenges. It is little wonder that the first Filipino to be honored as an international hero by CNN was a teacher, Efren Peñaflorida, who brought education to the extremely poor on a cart laden with learning materials. Dedicated teachers deserve the nation’s gratitude, not just during a special month but every day.