TEACHERS TO MARCOS: STATE YOUR PLANS FOR TEACHERS, EDUCATION SECTOR

Teachers pressed President Marcos to outline specific plans for the education sector for his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) this afternoon.

Benjo Basas, Chairperson of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), said that teachers were left disappointed by the president’s SONA content last year. “Last year his speech was generic, we have yet to see a plan, and we have also seen this in the performance of his government this past year in terms of education,” Basas explained.

It could be recalled that during Marcos’ first SONA, the education sector was only briefly mentioned and there were no concrete measures for the welfare of teachers or learners. The president spoke about a number of topics, including improving training programs for teachers, reviewing the K–12 curriculum, promoting full face–to–face classes for school year 2022–2023, enhancing instructional materials, and providing students and schools access to the internet and electronic devices.

“Although the K-12 curriculum is currently being reviewed and physical classes were pushed through last year, the so-called internet and electronic devices for students remain nothing more than a dream; we continue to suffer from poor education materials in our public schools, and so-called teacher training still does not reach the grassroots,” Basas added.

The group, however, recognizes the daring acknowledgment made by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte during the Basic Education Report (BER) last January that the education sector is challenged by many problems.

“A mere admission will not resolve our decades-long crisis. However, this may lead to a more realistic approach to fixing these recurring problems,” Basas said while citing some initiatives such as “changes in curriculum, amendment of certain policies and responses in specific issues raised by the teachers.”

The organization outlined some of the issues that they want to hear from the President for his SONA this afternoon that includes the following:

1. Increase teacher entry-level pay teachers;
2. Provide additional benefits that include health services, free post graduate education and accessible housing;
3. Free the teachers from excessive clerical and administrative tasks;
4. Hire more teachers and education personnel including guidance counselors
5. Implement the welfare provisions of Magna Carta for Public School Teachers
6. Reform the GSIS or create a separate teacher insurance system.
7. Allocate funds for the needed school buildings and other facilities.

The group also listed some of its most urgent demands, including the inclusion of Philippine history as a separate subject within the secondary curriculum, a return to the old school calendar in which summer break falls in April and May, the expediting of delayed monetary benefits such as the performance-based bonus (PBB), the implementation of an equitable career progression policy, and the restoration of a two-month school break for teachers and students.

Basas stated that the most evident contrasts in the Marcos administration’s policies thus far are the veto of a bill exempting taxes from teachers’ election duty honoraria and the administration’s all-out drive for the swift approval of the controversial Maharlika Investment Law.

“The Marcos administration could think about better ways to respond to people’s needs, as it promised during the election campaign period,” Basas ended.

Some members of the TDC will join SONA protests today to call for government action on these demands and to express solidarity with other sectors. #

Reference:
Benjo Basas, TDC National Chairperson
09273356375

TEACHERS’ DIGNITY COALITION (TDC)
Mobile Number: 0916-6126-739
Razon United Methodist Church Compound, Tomas St., De Castro, Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan City

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