Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL.NO. 424 5

Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHERS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article 11, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution provides that: “The State shall
give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human
liberation and development.”

Likewise, Article XIV, Section 5 [5] states that “the State shall assign the
highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will attract and
retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration
and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment” (emphasis supplied).

The present plight of our teachers, especially those in the public schools,
however, betrays the best intentions of the Constitution. Our teachers are not
accorded the due recognition and importance they deserve. They are unappreciated,
‘overworked and underpaid. Their salaries are insultingly low and with the high cost
of living today, it is no wonder that many of the best and the brightest in the teaching
profession are now teaching abroad or, worse, have migrated to work as caregivers
or domestic helpers.

The importance of the role of public school teachers in educating the Filipino
youth cannot be overemphasized. Hence, there is the urgency of instilling
professional and personal development of teachers by giving them the recognition
and the benefits that they rightly deserve.

Republic Act No. 4670 or the "Magna Carta for Public School Teachers”,
provides, as a matter of policy, for the promotion and improvement of the social and
economic status of public school teachers, their living and working conditions, their
terms of employment and career prospects in order that they may compare favorably
with existing opportunities in other walks of life, attract and retain in the teaching
profession more people with the proper qualifications, it being recognized that
advancement in education depends on the qualifications and ability of the teaching
staff and that education is an essential factor in the economic growth of the nation as
a productive investment of vital importance.


For education to become an essential key in the country’s global
competitiveness, the State should provide for additional benefits and incentives to
our teachers by enabling them to access institutionalized scholarship grants. This
measure hopes to help in the nationwide effort to attract and retain exceptional and
dedicated teachers who will nurture our young Filipinos to become productive
partners in nation-building.

In view thereof, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

.L. Tan

Keith Micah “Atty. Mi
4th District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4245

Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHERS,

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Public School
Teachers Scholarship Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to give
priority to the needs of public school teachers. It is likewise hereby declared to be the
policy of the State to promote and improve their economic status and to assist them
in providing quality education to their students.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall mean:

a). Public school teachers refer to all persons engaged in classroom teaching,
in any public elementary school and high school, on full-time basis, including
guidance counselors, industrial arts or vocational instructors, school heads,
supervisors, and all other persons performing supervisory and/or administrative
functions;

b). Scholarship grant refers to academic scholarships that cover any post
graduate course.

SEC. 4. Educational Benefits. - In addition to all other benefits to which they
are entitled under existing laws, eligible public school teachers are herein provided
with educational privileges in the form of scholarship grants. The scholarship grants
shall be institutionalized in post-graduate programs, free of any charge including but
Not limited to tuition and matriculation fees.

SEC. 5. Eligibility. - Public school teachers who are in active service shall be
eligible to avail of the scholarship grants to enroll in any relevant post graduate
course. Provided, that a public school teacher shall be in active duty for at least two
(2) consecutive years immediately prior to the date of application for the grant.

Provided further, that the public school teacher who shall avail of this grant
shall sign an undertaking that he or she shall be professionally engaged with any


public school for a period of five (5) years upon completion of the post graduate
course. Otherwise, he or she shall reimburse the full amount of the scholarship
grant.

SEC. 6. Schools were scholarship grant applicable. - The scholarship grant
shall be applicable in all state colleges and universities or state throughout the
country. Eligible public school teachers shall only be qualified to avail of the
scholarship grant upon meeting and passing the requirements set by the respective
colleges and universities.

SEC. 7. Forfeiture of Grant. - Public school teachers who have been charged
and proven to have committed acts of professional misconduct shall forfeit their
eligibility to avail of the grant.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Education
(DepEd), in consultation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), shall
formulate the necessary guidelines to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations and other issuance or parts thereof,
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of
this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof
shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,