Bill seeks to lower optional retirement age of public school teachers to 55

MANILA, Philippines – A Senate bill has been filed that seeks to lower the lower optional retirement age of public school teachers to 55.
Bill seeks to lower optional retirement age of public school teachers to 55

Bill seeks to lower optional retirement age of public school teachers to 55
Senator Sonny Angara files bill that seeks to lower optional retirement age of public school teachers to 55 | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Sonny Angara

Senate Bill No.1872 filed by Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, pushes for the welfare of public school teachers by lowering of optional retirement age from 60 to 55.

The explanatory note of the bill reads, “The country does face a perennial shortage of teachers, but respect and humane consideration for our hardworking educators should prompt policymakers and legislators to at least lower the optional retirement age from today’s 60 years old to 55 years old.”

Angara believes that by improving the quality of life of teachers, we can also improve the quality of education in the country.

The senator described public school teachers to be overworked and overwhelmed with tasks.

Angara cited 2015 UNESCO data to point out the “dismal” working conditions of teachers. He said, “When compared to figures worldwide, it is harder to be a public school teacher in the Philippines than in most countries, where mandatory retirement age is generally 60 years old.”

Angara, who is seeking another Senatorial term is pushing for reforms in the education sector.

He said that having a teacher for a father, the late Sen. Edgardo J. Angara (former president of the University of the Philippines), made him more aware of the concerns of the educators.

Angara said public school teachers are faced with multiple tasks in school. They also work longer than the official working time, sometimes even during vacation and on weekends.

Because of these conditions, many public school teachers have expressed their desire to retire earlier than the retirement age of 60.


As of writing, the bill is still pending for debates at the Senate committee on civil service, government reorganization, and professional regulation.

Angara is also the author of Senate Bill 135 that seeks to increase the salary of public school teachers. The bill aims to upgrade the Salary Grade of teachers from 11 to 19. If approved, teachers can expect a minimum of as much as P42,000 monthly salary.

Angara said pushing for the improvement of teachers’ welfare is “one of the best investment's our government could make.”

— Sally, The Summit Express



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