Magna Carta for Public School Teachers: RA 4670

Republic Act No. 4670

• Also known as the "Magna Carta for Public School Teachers"
• Approved on June 18, 1966

Declaration of Policy

• RA 4670 aims to promote and improve the social and economic status of public school teachers
• It focuses on enhancing their living and working conditions
• It also includes improving their terms of employment and career prospects
• This seeks to attract and retain qualified individuals in the teaching profession.
• Advance in education depends on qualified teaching staff
• Education serves as a vital investment in the nation's economic growth.

Title Definition

• RA 4670 applies to all public school teachers.
• This excludes the professorial staff of state colleges and universities.
• A "teacher" includes those in classroom teaching at any level on a full-time basis.
• "Teachers" also include guidance counselors, school librarians, and vocational instructors.
• It covers individuals performing supervisory or administrative functions in government-operated schools, colleges, and universities.
• Those excluded are school nurses, physicians, dentists, and other school employees.

Recruitment and Qualification

• The Department of Education is to define teacher recruitment policy clearly.
• Minimum educational qualifications for teacher-applicants:
  • For kindergarten and elementary grades teachers: a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education (B.S.E.ED.) is needed.
  • For secondary school teachers: a Bachelor's degree in Education (or equivalent) with a major and a minor, or a Bachelor's degree in Arts or Science with at least 18 professional education units is required.
  • For teachers of secondary vocational and two-year technical courses: a Bachelor's degree must be in the field of specialization with at least 18 professional education units.
  • For collegiate level courses excluding vocational: a master's degree is needed, in a specific area of specialization.
• School superintendents can appoint temporary teachers if qualified applicants are lacking.
• Preference is given based on ranks in competitive examinations.
• Examination results must be public, providing each applicant their score and rank.

Probationary Period

• No probationary period is required if recruitment follows adequate training and professional preparation + civil service eligibility.
• A provisional status with a probation period of one year applies to those lacking civil service eligibility but who meet minimum educational qualifications.

Tenure of Office

• Teachers are assured stability in employment and security of tenure, as per existing laws.
• Teachers on provisional status due to lack of civil service eligibility can achieve permanent status after ten years of continuous, efficient, and faithful service.

Consent for Transfer Transportation Expenses

• Transfers require the teacher's consent, except for cause.
• The school superintendent must notify teachers of transfers, including reasons.
• Teachers can appeal the transfer to the Director of Public Schools or the Director of Vocational Education.
• Transfers must be held in abeyance during the appeal: with exception of three months before any local or national election period.
• The government covers necessary transfer expenses if the transfer is finalized.

Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers

• Within six months of RA 4670 approval, the Secretary of Education creates the Code of Professional Conduct for Public School Teachers.
• Each teacher receives a copy of the Code.
• The code will be available in the school principal or head teacher's office

Safeguards in Disciplinary Procedure

• Teachers have rights to due charges
• Right to Access Evidence and Defense:
  • The right to full access to the evidence in the case.
  • The right to defend themselves and be defended by a representative of their choice and/or by their organization
  • Adequate time allotted for the preparation of their defense
  • Appeal Rights: The right to appeal to clearly designated authorities.
• Confidentiality is maintained during disciplinary actions.

Administrative Charges

• A committee hears administrative charges, including:
  • The School Superintendent of the Division (or representative) as chairman: needs rank of division supervisor
  • A representative of the local/national teacher's organization
  • A supervisor of the Division
  • The Director of Public Schools designates the last two
• The committee submits findings and recommendations to the Director of Public Schools within 30 days after hearings
• If the school superintendent is the complainant, the Secretary of Education appoints all committee members.

No Discrimination

• There should not be entrance to or exit from teaching based on irrelevant factors.
• This includes discrimination during employment.

Married Teachers

• Authorities should try to employ married teacher couples in the same location.

Academic Freedom

• Teachers have the freedom to teach and use varying classroom methods.

Teaching Hours

• Teachers can teach no more than six hours of actual classroom teaching daily.
• Time should be allocated for preparation, grading, and related tasks
• Additional compensation is required if extended work is needed.
• Payment amounts to the regular rate and 25% of the basic pay.

Additional Compensation

• An additional 25% is paid for extracurricular duties, out-of-school activities, etc.
• Applies after completing six hours of teaching or eight hours of other work.
• Agencies using teachers must pay needed added compensation.
• Education authorities must ensure teachers are paid appropriately given this section.

Criteria for Salaries

• Salaries should be on par with other occupations needing equivalent qualifications.
• Salaries should provide a reasonable standard of living for teachers and their families.
• Positions must be graded so as to know what positions require higher qualifications
• The general salary scale should relate the lowest and highest salaries in the profession in reasonable order

Salary Scale

• Salary scales should have regular increments from minimum to maximum.
• Regular increments depend on satisfactory efficiency shown in performance.
• Progression from minimum to maximum should not exceed ten years.

Equality in Salary Scales

• City, municipal, municipal district, and provincial government salary scales should be equal to those of the National Government.

Cost of Living Allowance

• A cost-of-living allowance should keep pace with the cost-of-living index.
• At least annually funds should be recommended to congress for cost of living allowances.
• Determination of these allowances should be, the city, municipal or provincial government, for teachers employed by the Department of Education

Special Hardship Allowances

• A special hardship allowance equivalent to 25% of monthly salary is given where work related conditions are harsh as determined by the Secretary of Education

Salaries to be Paid in Legal Tender

• Salaries are to be paid in legal tender or its equivalent via checks/warrants.
• Checks/warrants should be cashable in any government financial institution, or banking institutions operating under the Republic of the Philippines.

Deductions Prohibited

• No deductions can be made unless otherwise authorized by law
• Authorizations can be dues to the Philippine Public School Teachers Association or premiums due on insurance policies

Medical Examination and Treatment

• Teachers must be medically examined free of charge before teaching.
• Examinations must be repeated annually during the teacher's professional life.
• Free medical treatment/hospitalization is given if deemed necessary as determined by examination results
• Teachers can look elsewhere for medical care and be reimbursed for transportation expenses, where medical facilities are scarce.

Compensation For Injuries

• Teachers are protected against job-related injuries.
• The consequences of physical and nervous strain can be recognized as a compensable occupational disease.

Study Leave

• Teachers may take a study leave, which cannot exceed one school year
• Study leave is granted after seven years of service per Department of Education schedule.
• Teachers can pursue to graduate study in education or allied courses.
• During their leave, teachers are entitled to 60% of their salary for up to one year leave
• Teacher must take a study load of 75% of his courses
• The Secretary of Education may approve of more than one year of study leave but without compensation

Indefinite Leave

• Teachers can take an indefinite sick leave if illness demands long lasting treatment that may exceed a year

Salary Increase upon Retirement

• Public teachers who meet service requirements receive a salary raise upon retirement.
• The raise will then be the basis of calculating retirement pay and monthly benefits

Freedom to Organize

• Teachers can freely create and join organizations of their choice for the furtherance and defense of employment interests

Discrimination Against Teachers Prohibited

• It is illegal to coerce to join an organization
• Or prejudice employment, dismiss, or otherwise harm membership in an organization
• Also cannot intervene in organizational activities in normal work

National Teacher's Organizations

• These organizations will be consulted with regards to educational polices. standards, social security of teachers

Rules and Regulations

• The Secretary of Education formulates implementating rules and regulations.
• The rules are effective 30 days after publication in newspaper of general circulation

Budgetary Estimates

• Annually, the Congress must have estimates to implement provisions of benefits to teachers

Penal Provision

• Anyone who defeats the laws of this Act will be punished by a fine of 100 - 1,000 pesos, or imprisonment in the courts discretion.
• A public official shall be ordered for dismissal when violating this Act.

Repealing Clause

• All acts inconsistent with this law must be repeated, amended, modified accordingly

Separability Clause

• If a provision in this the Act is found to be invalid, the other provisions stay in effect

Effectivity

• This Act is to take effect upon its approval