FIRST PAYCHECK. A teacher accepts his first paycheck from the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) on Wednesday (Oct. 14, 2020) for June to September 2020. MBHTE Mohagher Iqbal (inset) said the delay in the salary disbursement was caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic. (Photo courtesy of MBHTE-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY – Newly-hired teachers in the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have started receiving their “first pay” as mentors in the province of Maguindanao, the BARMM education ministry said on Thursday.
Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) said his office has started releasing the June-September salaries of 1,104 newly hired teachers from the 1st and 2nd schools’ division of Maguindanao.
“From October 14-16, the first batch to receive their salaries is the 538 newly-hired teachers from Maguindanao 1, while salaries for the 566 teachers from Maguindanao 2 will be released on October 19-21,” Iqbal said.
On top of their salaries, the MBHTE also provided an additional cash allowance amounting to PHP4,000 to each of the newly hired teachers.
The ministry said the salaries were delayed due to the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease pandemic.
Jion Mohamad, 27, a kindergarten teacher, said he understood the delay in the salary release.
“Happy of course. It was delayed and that is understandable,” Mohamad said, adding that he was still undecided as to what to buy on his first pay.
Mohamad is a newly hired teacher from Madia Elementary School in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
Mohamad was also thankful that MBHTE has allocated Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds for his school district that they used in procuring supplies necessary for reproducing students’ learning materials.
Meanwhile, Iqbal stressed the importance of continuing children’s education despite the pandemic.
“Let us take care of our school children, they are our hope in the Bangsamoro region,” Iqbal told the teachers, adding that his office is always committed to supporting them.
He said the MBHTE is also hiring 3,000 new teachers for the island provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, to be followed by Sulu and Lanao del Sur.
He also encouraged the provisional teachers who were affected by the cease and desist order issued by MBHTE to pass the licensure examination for teachers for them to be eligible and get a permanent position.
“The ministry ensures the automatic change of their status from provisional to permanent effective immediately after passing the licensure exam,” Iqbal said.
The MBHTE has around 20,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel across the region. (PNA)
