The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) has initiated a petition signing for their urgent request to Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara concerning the implementation of working hours and the MATATAG curriculum. The petition is set to be delivered to the secretary’s office once the anticipated dialogue proceeds to present their specific concerns regarding the issue.

“Nais din naming makatulong sa DepEd sa paggawa ng polisiya. Dapat kasi nauuna ang konsultasyon sa ibaba sa halip na agad na ipatupad ang anumang plano nila. Kami ang unang apektado ditto kaya dapat kunin din ang aming opinyon at sentimyento, said Benjo Basas, the National Chairperson of TDC.

The matter has been particularly heated in recent weeks, especially with the opening of the 2024-2025 school year, due to the heavy workload and other responsibilities imposed on teachers by DepEd Order No. 5 and DepEd Order No. 10, Series of 2024.

Napaka-impraktikal ng mga kautusan at labag sa batas. Tila hindi alam ng mga gumawa ng panuntunan ang kalagayan ng mga guro at ng ating mga silid-aralan sa public schools, Basas said criticizing the requirement for a full six hours of actual classroom teaching, which could extend to eight sections per day, in addition to other teaching-related duties.

The petition outlines ten specific demands concerning the implementation of working hours and class programs in public schools. Foremost among these demands is the immediate suspension of DepEd Orders No. 5 and No. 10, with a call for Secretary Angara to convene a broad consultation with teachers. The petition also demands that the DepEd adhere to the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, particularly its provisions on working hours, overtime pay, and the prohibition on transferring teachers without their consent.

It also insists on compliance with CSC Resolution 080096, DepEd Memorandum 291, s. 2008, and DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2009policies that the TDC has fought hard to establish over the years. The group argues that these policies must be revisited to provide proper guidance for the DepEd. The TDC asserts that resolving these issues requires a comprehensive and decisive approach to hiring non-teaching staff, including guidance counselors, librarians, health workers and security personnel, as well as increasing the number of teachers based on actual field needs.

Bagamat mayroon nang naunang pahayag ang DepEd na maaaring mabago pa ang mga nasabing polisiya, inaasahan pa rin naming na ikukunsidera ni Sec. Anagara ang mga kahilingang ito sa ilalabas na bagong panuntunan, Basas ended. #

Here is the portion of the petition through Google Forms that will be sent to the office of the DepEd Secretary that will include the name, school and email addresses of the petitioners:

SA PAMAMAGITAN NG PAGSAGOT NG “OO” PINATUTUNAYAN KO NA AKO AY SUMASANG-AYON SA MGA KAHILINGAN NG TDC KAY SEC. ANGARA:

1. Agad na ipatigil ang DepEd Order No. 5 at DepEd Order No. 10, s. 2024 at magpatawag ng isang malawak na konsultasyon sa mga guro.
2. Sikaping hindi aabot sa anim na oras ang aktwal na classroom teaching ng bawat guro at bigyan ng sapat na interval.
3. Isaayos ang pagpapatupad ng NMP at NRP at huwag itong gawing dagdag na workload sa mga guro.
4. Tiyaking nakalinya sa kasanayan ng guro ang asignaturang kanyang ituturo.
5. Baguhin ang iskedyul gayundin ang ilalaang oras sa bawat asignatura.
6. Ibigay sa mga guro ang pagpapasya kung saan gugugulin ang dalawang oras na laan sa teaching-related tasks.

7, Hanggat maaari, panatilihin sa bilang na 20 kada klase ang Kinder; 25-30 ang primary; at hindi tataas sa 30-35 ang Grades 4 hanggang Grade 12.

8. Igalang ang mga prinsipyo at panuntunan ng Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670), CSC Resolution 080096, DepEd Memorandum 291, s. 2008 at DepEd Order 16, s. 2009 (kabilang na ang mga rekomendasyon ng TDC na nilalaman ng position paper na ipinasa sa dating Kalihim Sara Duterte at sa liham kay Kalihim Sonny Angara).
9. Maglaan ng pondo para sa mga bagong items ng mga guro, guidance counselors, librarians, health workers, security personnel, at iba pang non-teaching staff sa mga paaralan.
10. Bigyan ng kaukulang parusa ang sinumang mapatutunayang sadyang lumabag sa panuntunan ng workload/working hours ng mga guro.

For details:
Benjo Basas, National Chairperson
09273356375