Private school teachers need financial assistance as the COVID-19 crisis persists given that most private schools are dependent on tuition for their salaries, a group said.
Many private schools can only pay their teachers until April 30 according to the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA).
“After this date, many private schools would resort to extreme measures to avoid closure such as placing school personnel on floating status without pay, non-renewal of contracts, and even retrenchment,” COCOPEA Managing Director Joseph Noel Estrada said.
“Private schools are affected too and are at the verge of closing down operations,” he added.
Classes in all levels and school activities nationwide were suspended since March as the country grappled to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department of Education has yet to decide as to when the next school year will begin as the world has yet to find a cure or vaccine for COVID-19.
The government’s inter-agency task force on emerging and infectious diseases, which handles the country’s policies for COVID-19 response, meanwhile suggested that schools push back reopening classes to September instead of the usual June. This, however, is still subject for discussion.
DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones has assured private schools meanwhile that the agency would seek the help of Congress for financial assistance to private school teachers.
“We sympathize with the problem of private schools,” Briones said.
For now, COCOPEA said private schools are still preparing for school year 2020 to 2021 despite the uncertainty and challenges.
“Private schools are trying their best to keep its teachers, faculty, and school personnel by paying their salaries despite their dwindling resources,” he said.
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I would suggest that all teachers in the private schools will be given subsidy PEAC and non PEAC not only during COVID because private schhols are.left behind with the salary of the public schools. Hope congress can enact a law providing subsidy to all private school teachers
I’m belong to private teachers no work no pay. We are also affected of Corona Virus, I’m here asking a subsidy or amelioration while having a ECQ because we have also family . Hoping you can hear our voice and we can receive your response imediately.Thank you, keep safe, stay at home and God bless us all.
Yes it is true that with the help our government can provide us, the private schools, we will be able to push through with the advocacy of quality education considering the new normal we need to face when this school year opens, being a little more at ease with regards to financial matters. We pray and trust God to provide us this favor because we believe that in one way or another we have contributed, it may not be that much, a certain percentage of the Department of Education’s rating of achievements. Please do give us the favor. Thank you very much!