AN ACT LOWERING THE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT AGE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM SIXTY (6 0 ) YEARS OLD TO FIFTY-FIVE (5 5 ) YEARS OLD, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13-A OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM ACT OF 1997"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Many public school teachers have expressed their desire to retire from their noble profession at an age earlier than what is set by the law, which currently stands at 65 years-old.
Officially, instruction time is six hours each day, but some teachers work much longer hours on account of their multiple responsibilities at school. Teachers work in 40 out of 54 weeks per year, but they have duties during vacation months, and even beyond the classroom and the school premises.
Compared to figures worldwide, the physical, mental and emotional toll on teachers in the Philippine public school system is significantly higher than their counterparts in most countries. And yet, our teachers retire five years later than those in other countries, where the mandatory retirement age is generally at 60 years old.
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 as this proposed measure stipulates.
The work of our teachers should be highly valued in our society. And one way of demonstrating our gratitude to them is by the swift passage and approval of this measure.
SONNY ANGARA
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