The 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗧) expresses its serious concern over the continuing reports from teachers regarding the 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 (𝗦𝗥𝗜).

The SRI was 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 as a form of recognition for the sacrifices and services of public sector workers, including teachers. It was accompanied by clear 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗗𝗕𝗠) on its coverage, amount, and timetable of release. Teachers rightfully expected that these guidelines would be followed and that the full amount promised would be released within the prescribed period.

However, many teachers have yet to receive the full SRI, while others have not received it at all. This situation has caused frustration and disappointment among educators who have long been hoping for the full payment—especially amid rising prices, heavy workloads, and worsening working conditions.

ASSERT emphasizes that 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗥𝗜. As such, it has the responsibility to ensure that 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁. Announcements without guaranteed funding and clear execution only deepen the hardship and distrust felt by teachers.

We therefore 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 that the concerned agencies immediately:

• Complete the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗦𝗥𝗜 to all qualified teachers; and
• Act 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗕𝗠 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀, without passing the burden of delays and budget shortfalls onto employees.

This SRI issue once again highlights a pattern of 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, where commitments are made publicly but are not matched by concrete and timely action. Teachers deserve more than promises—they deserve results.

ASSERT stands with teachers in asserting their right to the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗥𝗜, and we will continue to press for accountability until this commitment is finally honored.
Teachers deserve what was promised. Nothing less.

𝐽𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑦 21, 2026