Bill seeks added incentives for teachers in rural areas
12/20/2008 | 07:18 PM
MANILA, Philippines - Qualified teachers in rural areas may be entitled to added incentives if they decide to stay at their posts instead of finding work abroad, if a bill filed by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago is passed into law.
Santiago said that with the incentives encouraging teachers to stay at least three years in rural posts, Senate Bill 2934 seeks to address the brain drain in rural areas.
"Brain drain not only happens when the intellectual or technical personnel of a developing country migrates to developed countries, but it also happens between rural and urban areas," she said in a press statement on the Senate website (www.senate.gov.ph).
At present, she said there is little incentive for highly qualified teachers to go and stay in rural schools.
Her bill, titled the Rural Teacher Retention Act, acknowledges the higher level of challenge in these areas that makes it difficult for teachers to stay.
"Many of our teachers find it really hard to realistically make a career teaching in these communities," Santiago said.
The bill aims to create an incentive system for highly qualified teachers who shall commit to stay and teach for at least three years.
"As a probinsyana, I strongly urge the government to provide equal opportunities throughout the education sector and prioritize high quality education for children in rural areas for them to fully develop into productive citizens," Santiago said. – GMANews.TV
Santiago said that with the incentives encouraging teachers to stay at least three years in rural posts, Senate Bill 2934 seeks to address the brain drain in rural areas.
"Brain drain not only happens when the intellectual or technical personnel of a developing country migrates to developed countries, but it also happens between rural and urban areas," she said in a press statement on the Senate website (www.senate.gov.ph).
At present, she said there is little incentive for highly qualified teachers to go and stay in rural schools.
Her bill, titled the Rural Teacher Retention Act, acknowledges the higher level of challenge in these areas that makes it difficult for teachers to stay.
"Many of our teachers find it really hard to realistically make a career teaching in these communities," Santiago said.
The bill aims to create an incentive system for highly qualified teachers who shall commit to stay and teach for at least three years.
"As a probinsyana, I strongly urge the government to provide equal opportunities throughout the education sector and prioritize high quality education for children in rural areas for them to fully develop into productive citizens," Santiago said. – GMANews.TV
