Marcos vows more career growth for teachers under his admin

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Thursday vowed to expand more career opportunities for teachers as the administration aims to make the teaching profession more sustainable and dignified. 

The President made the commitment as he witnessed the oath-taking of newly promoted teachers and school heads under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) program from the Bulacan and Pampanga Clusters during a ceremony at the City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. 

''Hindi ako papayag na hindi masuklian ang inyong sakripisyo. Kaya, gumagawa tayo ng mga hakbang upang marami pang guro ang tumaas ang posisyon, at kagaya ng aking ipinangako, walang sinuman na teacher ang magre-retire na Teacher I,'' Marcos said in his speech.

(I won't allow that the sacrifices of teachers be ignored. That's why we are doing measures to ensure that more teachers will get promoted and just like what I've promised, no teacher will retire as Teacher I.) 

''I have always believed that the true measure of a nation’s progress is the kind of future that we prepare for our youth. Policies and programs set the direction, but it is through you—our teachers—that these aspirations take root and grow," he added. 

Marcos said the government continues to provide opportunities to ensure teachers' promotion, and one of these measures is by opening more senior positions in the teaching field. 

''After all, when our teachers are supported, our students are better served, and our nation moves forward with greater confidence," Marcos said. 

In the event, a total of 1,991 personnel from the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga have been promoted and reclassified.

The group includes teachers elevated to higher ranks, from Teacher II to Teacher VII and Master Teacher I to Master Teacher III, as well as school principals promoted from Principal I to Principal IV.

This new system expands career advancement opportunities with the aim to resolve long-standing promotion bottlenecks in the sector while also recognizing teachers’ professional growth, competence, and years of service. 

For the newly promoted teachers, Marcos urged them to ''carry with you the faces of the students who look up to you, the parents who entrust their children to your care, and the communities that believe in the difference that you make in their lives every single day.''

''Teach not only knowledge, but empathy. Not only skills, but character. Because long after the lessons are over, what your students will remember most is how you made them believe in themselves,'' he added.

Meanwhile, Marcos also visited the Minuyan Elementary School, which implements the government’s Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP) program to safeguard the health of students and teachers.

During his visit, the President engaged and interacted with teachers and students of the said school. Education Secretary Sonny Angara was also there. 

The Department of Education has partnered with 1Life, a private diagnostics provider for the YAKAP program, to deliver on-site medical services during its caravans. 

The collaboration reflects a whole-of-nation approach, with government, the private sector, and communities working together to safeguard the health of learners and teachers. —VAL, GMA Integrated News