Early retirement for teachers: Senate proposes bill to change age from 65 to 60
Senate President Francis Escudero has filed Senate Bill 58, which seeks to lower the compulsory retirement age for employees of the Department of Education (DepEd) from 65 to 60 years.
If passed, this legislation could allow thousands of teachers and non-teaching staff to retire five years earlier, giving them the chance to pursue new career opportunities.
“The present system at the DepEd needs skills updating and professional advancement of their personnel in order that services rendered at the department would be restructured and modernized yet perpetual,” Escudero noted when he first filed the bill in 2022.
His proposal aims to modernize the workforce and improve educational services.
Senate Bill 58 could also create job openings for younger teachers and aspiring non-teaching staff. By allowing older employees to retire sooner, the legislation would help refresh the workforce at DepEd, making room for new talent eager to contribute to the education sector.
Escudero noted that with the proposed changes for those nearing retirement, many educators may wish to spend their prime years in different careers, rather than remaining in their current positions until the traditional retirement age.
The proposed legislation reflects a growing trend to adapt retirement policies to meet the changing needs of the workforce.
With the education sector facing challenges in modernization and skills development, this bill could play a crucial role in reshaping the future of teaching in the Philippines.
The bill is currently pending with the Committee on Education, Arts, Culture, and Sports.
Recent discussions have also included proposals to adjust the retirement age for police officers, indicating a broader legislative focus on retirement age reforms across different sectors.
While there is ongoing discussion about lowering the retirement age for government employees, no final decision has been made.
