Teachers are planning to boycott the use of chalks on cl(–foul word(s) removed–)room this coming Monday, September 16. It’s to show that they are serious about their fight to higher chalk allowance. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) will hold “National Chalk Day” to show their disappointment in the P700 per year allowance of a teacher for teaching aids like chalk.
ACT Vice President Benjie Valbuena point out that a teacher’s allowance for chalk is only P3.50 per day and teachers used their own money to compensate for other materials needed. “May kampanya kami na hinihiling naman na gawing P2,000 itong chalk allowance o teaching aid allowance na tinatawag,” Valbuena told radio dzMM’s “Pasada Sais Trenta Sabado”.
The government needed an additional P700 million to P1 billion in annual budget for the proposed raised of teacher’s allowance.
According to Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya Jr., the chairman of the House committee on appropriations, that the group’s proposed increase is unsure. “Hindi din biro ang hiling ng grupo na P2,000 per teacher. Kahit iligay niyo lang sa P1,000 for 500,000 teachers, you’re talking about P500 million. Para ma-implement ‘yan, may isang item na dapat tanggalin sa General Appropriations Bill para ilipat sa chalk,” said the congressman.
However, Rep. Abaya said that there’s a bigger chance to increased funds if Education Secretary Armin Luistro agress to it. “Mayroong chance. In fact, I told the teachers that the probability of success is greater, kung si [Secretary] Luistro ang kausapin. Kasi it’s easier to align funds na kung may kakaltasan man, ay manggagaling din sa DepEd (Department of Education),” he added.
