Ifugao teachers to receive higher pay

By Marcelo L. Lihgawon

TINOC, Ifugao -- Special Education Fund (SEF) teachers to be assigned in municipalities of the province for school year 2013 - 2014 are set to receive a P15,000 monthly stipend. 

The 50 percent increase was approved by Gov. Eugene Balitang, chairman of the Ifugao Provincial School Board, for the benefits of SEF teachers.

Last school year, SEF teachers received a monthly stipend of P10,000. 

According to Balitang, it is proper to increase the stipend of teachers to be almost at par with the salary of a permanent teacher I.

However the number of SEF teachers will be lessened. 

For school year 2012-2013, the province has a total of 41 hired SEF teachers.

With more permanent teachers to be hired by the Department of Education in the province and the increase of the monthly stipend, only 30 SEF teachers will be hired for the coming school year. 

SEF teachers are paid from Special Education Fund constituted from the proceeds of an additional real property tax as provided under Republic Act No. 5447.