Former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo has introduced a bill that will raise the wage grade of current science and mathematics teachers who majored in science or mathematics by two stages.
The Developing Globally Competitive Science and Mathematics Teachers Act of 2022, which was proposed by Arroyo, would raise the salaries of current public school science and math teachers who did not major in those subjects but have been teaching for at least two years, as certified by the principal of the school and the district supervisor, by two salary grades.
The said salary increase for incumbent science and math teachers who are not science and math majors will take effect after they have passed a merit examination in their field of specialization to be administered by the Department of Education with the support of the Department of Science and Technology.
House Deputy Speaker Arroyo, said in her explanatory note, “In our genuine effort to be major players in the global arena, it is of paramount importance to have exceptional and highly educated students. But without the contribution of our teachers in the molding of our youth, it will be close to impossible to create such an ideal studentry.”
Furthermore, Arroyo said, “This bill will ensure that teaching in the fields of science and mathematics will be as competitive as those of other professions, and thus increase the number of competent teachers who will prepare Filipinos for global excellence.”
Entry-level public school teachers are paid a Salary Grade 11, or roughly P12,000 per month. The salary will rise to Salary Grade 13, which is roughly P25,000 if the measure becomes law.
Similarly, the law offers the following advantages to scientific and math majors who choose to pursue careers as science and mathematics teachers:
- priority in government scholarship grants, allowances study visits, placement, publications, and research support, wherever appropriate, to teachers and students who enroll in science or mathematics teaching courses
- temporary waiver of the requirements under Section 13, Article 3 of Republic Act 7836 requiring undergoing a written Licensure Examination for Teachers given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and securing a valid certificate of registration and professional license from PRC to allow new Bachelor of Science in Education graduates majored in science and mathematics to be employed as science and math teachers, provided that such graduates will undergo the licensure examination and secure PRC license within one year from date of employment
- specialized continuing education and training in science and math teaching and
- rewards and recognition in cash and in-kind to new Bachelor of Science in Education graduates who majored in science or mathematics who made it to the Top 20 in the licensure examinations for teachers by the PRC
The bill also permits graduates of science degree programs to teach science or mathematics in public or private elementary and secondary schools for a maximum of three years, with the proviso that science degree program graduates who have passed their respective licensure examinations and earned at least 10 units of teaching pedagogy and passed the licensure examination for teachers may be given an indefinite extension or permanent appointment before being permanently appointed.
Additionally, the Department of Education (DepEd) must get a supplemental appropriation of P500 million for the first year of the proposed bill’s implementation under Arroyo’s bill from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The national budget law or the general appropriations act will be used to set the budget for the ensuing years.
