AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article 11, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution provides that: "The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development."
Likewise, Article XIV, Section 5 [5] states that "the State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment" (emphasis supplied).
The present plight of our poor teachers, especially those in the public schools, however, betrays the best intentions of the Constitution. Our teachers are not accorded the due recognition and importance they deserve. They are unappreciated, overworked and underpaid. Their salaries are insultingly low and with the high cost of living today, it is no wonder that many of the best and the brightest in the teaching profession are now teaching abroad or, worse, have migrated to work as caregivers or domestic helpers.
The importance of the role of public school teachers in educating the Filipino youth cannot be overemphasized. Hence, there is the urgency of instilling professional and personal integrity of teachers by giving them the recognition and the benefits that they rightly deserve.
Republic Act No. 4670 or the "Magna Carta for Public School Teachers", provides, as a matter of policy, for the promotion and improvement of the social and economic status of public school teachers, their living and working conditions, their terms of employment and career prospects in order that they may compare favorably with existing opportunities in other walks of life, attract and retain in the teaching profession more people with the proper qualifications, it being recognized that advancement in education depends on the qualifications and ability of the teaching staff and that education is an essential factor in the economic growth of the nation as a productive investment of vital importance.
For education to become an essential key in the country's global competitiveness, the State should provide for additional benefits and incentives to our teachers by enabling them to access institutionalized scholarship grants. This measure hopes to help in the nationwide effort to attract and retain exceptional and dedicated teachers who will nurture our young Filipinos to become productive partners in nation-building.
ANGELINE “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4th District, Quezon
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 121
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Scholarship Grants to Public School Teachers Act".
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to provide access to free education to public schools teachers by providing them institutionalized scholarship grants. The scholarship grants to public school teachers will give them high morale and self esteem. Providing them access to free education will help them become competitive and better members of the academic community.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall mean:
(1) Public school teachers refer to all persons engaged in classroom teaching, in any level of instruction, on full-time basis or part-time basis, including guidance counselors, school librarians, industrial arts or vocational instructors, and all other persons performing supervisory and/or administrative functions in all schools, colleges and universities operated by the Government or its political subdivisions; but shall not include school nurses, school physicians, school dentists, and other school employees.
(2) Scholarship grant refers to academic scholarships that cover any post graduate course.
SEC. 4. Eligibility ofpublic school teachers to avail of grant. - Public school teachers who are in active service shall be eligible to avail of the scholarship grants to enroll in any post graduate course. Provided, that the public school teacher shall have been in active duty for at least n,vo consecutive years immediately prior to the date of application for the grant.
SEC. 5. Schools where scholarship grant applicable. - The scholarship grant shall be applicable in all state universities throughout the country.
SEC. 6. Forfeiture of Grant. - Public school teachers who have been charged and proven to have committed acts of professional misconduct shall forfeit their eligibility to avail of the grant.
SEC. 7. Implementing Agency. - The Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall be the implementing agencies for this Act and shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations.
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
Scholarship Grants to Public School Teachers
Reviewed by Anonymous
on
March 23, 2019
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Reviewed by Anonymous
on
March 23, 2019
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