17-7-2023 (MANILA) According to a recent survey conducted by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers Private Schools, most private school teachers in the country earn less than their counterparts in public schools and lack a collective bargaining agreement with their employers.
The survey, which included responses from 103 teachers in 74 private schools and universities across the country, revealed that over three in five private school teachers earn less than the entry-level salary for public school teachers, which is set at P27,000. Additionally, around 70% of the surveyed teachers reported not being covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
The findings also highlighted that approximately one in four private school teachers earn less than the National Capital Region minimum wage of P620 per day. Only one out of five teachers earn wages equal to the estimated family living wage of P35,000.
The survey shed light on the challenges faced by private school teachers, including the non-implementation of a law mandating salary increases in line with tuition fee hikes. Around 17% of respondents reported not receiving any salary increase since they began their employment.
While 50% of teachers acknowledged the existence of a faculty union in their schools, only 35% said they were covered by a collective bargaining agreement. The absence of a union was seen as a moderate to major problem by more than half of the teachers surveyed.
Low salaries, excessive workload, and difficulty in promotion were identified as the top concerns among private school teachers. Surprisingly, even large and “mega” schools were found to pay teachers rates lower than public schools, with nine out of ten private schools paying their teachers less than the starting pay for public school teachers.
The survey results prompted calls for the government to establish a minimum wage for private school teachers and identify schools capable of providing appropriate pay to educators. Advocates argue that raising the salaries of private school teachers to be on par with their public school counterparts is essential for addressing the wage disparity and ensuring quality education.
