To be a teacher is not an easy feat. While the same could be said for practically any job anywhere in the world, being a teacher in a developing economy like the Philippines is particularly challenging because, more often than not, the level of competence and engagement demanded in the profession is hardly met with the commensurate compensation appropriate for the cost of living in major areas of the country.
Nevertheless, because of this understanding of the economy, I also know that comparing society today to how it was a generation ago will prove to be out of touch and futile, as much has changed, especially regarding the economy. Over the last few decades, prices have risen faster than wages, particularly affecting the purchasing power of those in the lower income brackets.
Unsurprisingly, many teachers eventually opt to work multiple jobs, augment their income with mounting debt, or leave the profession altogether to provide for their families. For highly qualified teachers, offers to work abroad arrive and become appealing enough, given the promise to earn foreign money that is usually worth much more compared to our depreciated currency.
Thus, in recognition of the empirical evidence of how labor is generally valued in the country across industries vis-a-vis the rising cost of living, may there be more policies to incentivize the youth to consider a career in the academe and stay for the long haul, not just because of the many prospects for growth that it can offer, but because it can provide sustainable means of livelihood for a family.