PIA Press Release Monday, January 23, 2012 Teachers group urges DepEd to give plantilla positions to Kindergarten volunteersCATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Jan 23 (PIA) -- The leader of the group called Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) urged the Department of Education to give plantilla positions to Kindergarten teachers.Edilberto Sumapig, regional coordinator of (TDC) expressed this sentiment during the regional education summit held today at DepEd regional office graced by Undersecretary Yolanda Quijano, a passionate and staunch supporter of K+ 12 Program. Sumapig said that the Kindergarten teachers perform much more than the regular teachers; they teach two classes a day but receive only an honorarium that does not even at par with minimum wage. USec Quijano said that their heart goes out to the teacher in kindergarten who teaches double session kinder classes. “We are calling them, volunteer for the meantime that DepEd cannot yet absorb them,” Quijano said, herself also concerned about the pay the Kinder teachers get. One education official said that with the new curriculum K + 12, he is sure that these kindergarten teachers who have passed the teachers board exams and have performed well, will surely be absorbed and receive the rightful compensation, eventually. Some 200 education stakeholders gathered to advocate for K + 12 which they claim will strengthen quality basic education. (PIA 8-Samar) |