The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) renewed its call for the immediate enactment of a Teacher Protection Policy, stressing that many cases filed against public school teachers stem not from abuse or misconduct, but from deep-seated and unresolved problems confronting the country’s education system.

The group said this position is backed by the results of a recent survey conducted among teachers who experienced or witnessed complaints related to child abuse arising from classroom situations. Based on the responses, most of the cases developed from routine classroom discipline, such as reprimands, efforts to control disruptive behavior, or attempts to maintain order in overcrowded classrooms—actions that were later interpreted or escalated as abuse.

According to the TDC, teachers who responded to the survey consistently pointed to systemic issues, including large class sizes, the absence or severe shortage of guidance counselors and SPED teachers, and the lack of clear, workable discipline mechanisms agreed upon by schools, parents, and learners. Many respondents also reported that while regulations governing teachers are extensive, protections for teachers facing complaints are either weak or nonexistent.

TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said the findings show that teachers are unfairly made to absorb the consequences of systemic failures that should be addressed by the State.

“Ang mga kaso pong ito ay hindi hiwalay na insidente kundi sintomas ng mas malalalim na problema sa edukasyon—problema na matagal nang pinapasan ng mga guro mag-isa. Kapag bigo ang ating sistema na magbigay ng sapat na suporta, malinaw na polisiya at maayos na kondisyon sa pagtuturo, hindi makatarungan na ang guro ang agad na pagbuntunan ng sisi,” said Benjo Basas, TDC National Chairperson.

Basas emphasized that discipline remains indispensable in any learning environment, but teachers are increasingly placed at a disadvantage as nearly any form of classroom management can be misconstrued as abuse.

“Mahalaga ang disiplina at kaayusan sa classroom, malaki ang maitutulong nito sa pagkatuto ng mga bata. Pero kung ang disiplina ay ituturing na pang-aabuso, eh hindi itataya ng guro ang kanyang reputasyon at hanapbuhay,” Basas exclaimed.

Survey respondents also reported experiencing public shaming, harassment, intimidation, and even extortion once complaints were filed against them, often before any impartial investigation was conducted. Several teachers said they received little to no institutional support from authorities, leaving them to face administrative or legal processes on their own. Others admitted that the fear of being accused has led them to avoid enforcing discipline altogether, even at the expense of effective teaching and learning.

“Labis na ang mga regulasyong maaaring magamit laban sa mga guro, may DepEd Child Protection Policy, may RA 7610, at iba pang batas. Kinikilala namin ang obligasyon ng estado na protektahan ang mga bata, ngunit hindi dapat gamitin ang mga polisiyang ito upang tapakan naman ang karapatan at balewalain ang dignidad ng mga guro. Hindi maaaring gawing panakip-butas ang mga guro sa mga pagkukulang ng sistema,” Basas explained.

The TDC clarified that it does not tolerate any wrongdoing by members of the profession, but stressed that teachers, like all citizens, are entitled to due process as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670).

The group said the proposed Teacher Protection Policy is crucial to ensure that existing child protection laws are not weaponized against teachers and that safeguards are put in place to protect them from baseless accusations, harassment, social media shaming, extortion and sensationalization. The policy, the TDC added, should also mandate legal and psychosocial support for teachers facing complaints and promote alternative, community-agreed discipline frameworks in schools.

Ultimately, the TDC maintained that protecting learners and protecting teachers are not competing objectives.

“Kung tunay nating layunin ang kapakanan ng mga bata, dapat sabay na protektado ang mga guro. Mahirap isulong ang dekalidad n edukasyon kung mga guro ay patuloy na nagtuturo nang may takot,” Basas ended.

Basas will attend the House Committee on Basic Education hearing today as one of the resource persons, as the panel deliberates on proposals for the Teacher Protection Policy. #

Reference:
Benjo Basas, National Chairperson
09273356375

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