Federal education czar: PR teachers’ salaries are still too low
By The Star Staff
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona expressed disapproval on Thursday of teachers’ salary levels in Puerto Rico.
“I spoke with the governor about this and we agree. We have to pay the teachers here a decent salary,” Cardona said in response to questions from the press. “Not only in Puerto Rico but in the entire country to ensure that we are providing teachers with the income they deserve.”
“In Puerto Rico, specifically, the payment is very low,” he added.
Cardona stated that he was glad to learn that in Puerto Rico educators received an additional $1,000 a month, but said the increase is insufficient.
“When I came here last year I talked to teachers who have doctorates earning $3,000 a month. That’s not enough,” the federal official said. “I want the children here in Puerto Rico to have the best education. We have to pay the professionals the salary they can earn elsewhere or they leave and I don’t want that.”
“We are going to continue supporting teachers, giving them a salary where they can continue with their families, buy a house, do the things they have to do,” Cardona said. “It is not fair that teachers with master’s degrees are working on weekends to have more income. It is also not fair that those same teachers pay out of their pockets for educational materials.”
The U.S. Education secretary made his statements after an appearance at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Convention.