"Aditako Bokodan Di Gawis" = Let Us Share our Blessings

Salary Equalization Fund

This is a project to make the salaries of  SMS school teachers equal to, if not better than, the salaries of public school teachers. The idea is to attract the best school teachers to St. Mary's School. Good school teachers results in quality education.  Parents are willing to pay for quality education. If you are one of the many who subscribe to the foregoing observation, you can direct your donation, aid or grant to the SMS equalization fund.

The Salary Equalization Fund Drive (SEF) was a result of the workshops during the SMS Alumni Re-union / home coming last May 2 to 4, 2000. 

The alumni were informed that the starting salary of a St. Mary's School teacher amounted to only Pesos 6,100 - significantly lower than the Pesos 9,000 starting salary of Public School teacher. 

And yet from the endowment fund table, the biggest contributors to the endowment fund from 1991 to March 30, 2000 were the teachers.  Of the P627,687.71 total endowment fund, the teachers accounted for P272,819.09 or a hefty 43%. 

With sub-standard pay and having to pledge a significant portion of their salaries to the endowment fund, it is no wonder the quality of education in SMS has been compromised. The teachers have to scrounge for other sources to maintain a respectable livelihood. The result is what you may already have concluded: faculty demoralization > poor quality of education > poor student performance in national examinations > reputation as a quality learning institution is undermined > low enrollment > reduced tuition fee generated income > and the negative cycle goes on. 

This situation percolated into a strong incentive  for the "Teachers Salary Equalization Fund Drive". This initiative has taken momentum and is now aggressively being pursued by some SMS alumni and friends. Go to [or click on] SEF Donations to see initial donors.

Where to send tax deductible donations for SMS in the USA:

• The Treasurer
  SMSS Alumni and Friends Foundation
  760 George St.
  Teaneck, NJ 07666
  Phone: 201-833-1548
  Email: Isaley@aol.com

For other help options, click on any of the hereunder hyperlinks:

I. Computers and Related Equipment Funding Assistance Project.

II. Sponsor A Student Funding Assistance Project

III. Library Facilities Improvement Funding Assistance Project  

IV. Sports Complex/Auditorium Funding Assistance Project   

V. Dormitories Funding Assistance Project    

VI. School Building and Facilities Renovaion/Upgrading  

VII. Endowment Fund Build-up

VIII. Book Campaign     

IX. Salary Equalization Fund          

X. Raffles     

XI. SMSSI Operating Budget       

XII. Memorial Funds