A few days before the 3rd State of the Nation Address of Pres. Marcos Jr., the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines delivered a ‘critically unsatisfactory’ verdict on the Marcos-Duterte administration’s dismal performance in reversing the downward spiral of education over their two years in power. Teachers and education workers underscored the administration’s negligence in improving both access to and quality of education, and criticized the persistence of a flawed and misaligned educational orientation that fails to advance national development, the abandonment of teachers’ and education workers’ economic welfare, and the continued repression violating union rights and academic freedom.
“Sa unang taon ng administrasyong Marcos-Duterte, ‘needs immediate remediation’ ang markang ibinigay ng mga guro at kawani sa sektor ng edukasyon. Ngayong ikalawang taon, nagpatuloy ang kapabayaan nila sa edukasyon kaya’t walang pag-unlad sa akses at kalidad nito. Ayon mismo sa PSA, halos 11 milyon ang out-of-school youth o tinatayang 25% ng kabataang Pilipino habang patuloy ang paglala ng krisis sa pagkatuto dahil sa palpak na K-12 na ni-rebrand lamang sa MATATAG kurikulum at matinding kakulangan sa mga guro, silid-aralan, kawani, kagamitan sa pagtuturo at iba pang pangangailangan sa mga paaralan,” explained Vladimer Quetua, ACT Chairperson.
“Inabandona rin nila ang pangakong makabuluhang dagdag-sweldo noong kampanya habang patuloy tayong pinapaasa sa barya-baryang umento na itatakda pa ng World Bank gayong malinaw naman na matagal nang kapos at hindi nakabubuhay ang sweldo ng mga guro at kawaning publiko, lalo pa ang mga manggagawa at empleyado sa pribado. Hindi rin huminto ang mga atake sa mga demokratikong karapatan tulad ng karapatan sa pag-uunyon at kalayaang akademiko na mismong dating kalihim ng ahensya ang pasimuno. Isa pa sa tampok na panunupil kamakailan lang ay ang walang basehan at hindi makatarungang hatol ng korte sa tunay na kinatawan ng mga guro at ng sektor ng edukasyon na si Teacher France kasama ang Talaingod 18,” Quetua added.
“The government’s critically unsatisfactory performance falls far short of what our teachers, education workers, and the Filipino people deserve. The administration’s lofty promises of a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ ring hollow without swift and tangible steps to reverse the deteriorating state of education and address the mounting socio-economic challenges faced by teachers and education workers,” Quetua stressed.
ACT also announced that ACT will join other sectors in a protest march on July 22, coinciding with President Marcos Jr.’s 3rd SONA Address to challenge the empty promises of ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ and amplify calls for substantial salary increases, higher budget for education, and the protection and promotion of democratic rights.#
