Council okays edict on Outstanding Teachers Awards

The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance institutionalizing the Outstanding Teachers’ Awards in the city every Teachers month celebration.

Under the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Arthur Alad-iw, it shall be the policy of the local government to adopt the principles instituted in the declaration of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Presidential Proclamation NO. 242, Republic Act (RA) 10743, and other regulations.

Superficially, the ordinance stated that the city adopts as a policy the recognition of the professional services, dedication and commitment of the teachers to develop the students, guidance for them to attain their preferred education, and their contribution to the city as the educational center of the north.

The ordinance aims to give recognition to the teachers through the selection and awarding of the Outstanding teachers in the city; to provide a venue for the teachers to participate in the city-related activities for the celebration of Teachers Month and to encourage and support the teachers-initiated activities related to their profession, rights and welfare.

The ordinance also seeks to create the Selection Council for the said endeavor which will be composed of the Schools Division Superintendent as the Chairperson and the Chairperson of the City Council Committee on Education, 1 representative from the public schools and 1 representative from the private schools, Commission on Higher Education (CHED-CAR), 1 representative from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Baguio office and one of the outstanding teachers when available.

Among the functions of the council include to come up and approve the guidelines or mechanics in choosing the outstanding teachers; acceptance of the nominated outstanding teachers; approve activities for the World Teachers Month and information dissemination to the various schools in the city; coordinate with the teachers-imitated activities for the Teachers Month and such other functions as may be adopted for the realization of the measure.

The mandatory activities for the celebration of Baguio Teachers Day are the recognition of the Outstanding Teachers in the city; Teachers Summit or other for a, activities initiated by the teachers and any other activity that would help in their professional development inside and outside the educational institutions.

The ordinance disclosed that a no class or no work for the teachers may be adopted to give time for them to attend the main activity of the recognition and awarding of outstanding teachers. It shall be coordinated to the School or concerned officials to ensure the participation of the teachers in the awarding program.

The ordinance provided that the local government shall appropriate P500,000 from any available source for the effective implementation of the measure. The funding support may be increased based on the activities that will be adopted for the celebration of Teachers Month in the city. – Dexter A. See