ANGARA: HIRING OF NEW TEACHERS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED IN 2011

Following the ratification of the P1.545-Trillion 2011 budget by the Palace, Senator Edgardo J. Angara expressed his optimism about the improved funding for the education sector.

According to Angara, the timely passage of the General Appropriations Act would spur the government into action.

"The House, the Senate and the Palace all worked diligently to ratify the budget as early as possible, to enable the immediate implementation of the various proposed programs for 2011," said Angara.

This year's allocation for the Department of Education (DepEd) included an increase of P110.3-Million, restoring the MOOE (maintenance and other operating expenses) budget of 80 state universities and colleges.

The DepEd budget for the new year also included the hiring of 25,000 new teachers to address the shortage in our public school system.

"Our public school teachers play such a great role in the advancement of education in our country--which is why we must prioritize their employment and welfare as soon as possible," said Angara.

Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, also authored Senate Bill No. 2063, which seeks to amend the current Magna Carta for Public School Teachers to grant additional benefits to the dependents of our public school teachers by providing scholarship grants, free medical treatment and pension in case of disability.

"We must strive to improve the compensation packages of our nation's unsung heroes, so that they are motivated to work even harder in their task of shaping the minds of our youth," said Angara.