Chalk allowance

‘Chalk allowance’ gets blended with teachers’ new needs

By: Mariejo S. Ramos - 1 day ago

Public secondary teachers undergo webinar training on the utilization of the e-Learning platform by the Schools Division of Marikina on Tuesday, July 21 at the Jesus Dela Pena National High School in Marikina City in preparation for the blended learning approach by the Department of Education. The training program was initiated by the LGU Marikina and DeoEd Marikina.-INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Call it “chalk allowance” no more, since there’s now hardly any need for blackboards.

The Department of Education (DepEd) said the so-called chalk allowance given to teachers at the beginning of a school year would just be considered a form of cash allowance meant to help them meet the needs of the “blended learning’’ environment, or the mixed application of online and in-person class instruction.

For the new school year opening on Aug. 24, the allowance is P3,500 per teacher.

In an order dated June 8, the DepEd said that “in the constant effort to capacitate and empower the teachers, the department … is continuously expanding their welfare and benefits through the grant of cash allowance to teachers, formerly known as the chalk allowance.”

The money will be given to both “permanent and provisional teachers, including Alternative Learning System (ALS) mobile teachers and district ALS coordinators, in all public elementary, junior and senior high schools, and community learning centers, who are in service in DepEd for the current school year, and assigned with at least one teaching load.”

“[It] shall be used for the payment of … P3,500 per classroom teacher for every school year for the purchase of teaching supplies and materials,” the DepEd order added