Following its lobbying efforts with lawmakers for the enactment of key legislative measures, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) issued its 7-point World Teachers’ Day demands and launched its National Teachers’ Month campaign with the theme, “Dagdag sweldo, hindi dagdag trabaho! Ipaglaban ang karapatan at kagalingan, sapat na badyet at makabayang edukasyon!” in a press conference today.
“Buong buwan na naman kaming babansagang makabagong bayani ngunit deka-dekada nang walang makabuluhang pagbabago sa aming kalagayan. Mayorya sa amin ay baon sa utang dahil sa kapos na sweldo at paulit-ulit na barat na umento, napag-iwanan ang mga benepisyo, pinagkakaitan ng nararapat na promosyon, robot kung ituring dahil sa bigat ng trabaho at patong-patong na responsibilidad, sinusupil ang karapatang magpahayag at mag-unyon at maging ang kalayaang akademiko, at ibinubunton sa amin ang sisi sa palpak at bulok na sistema,” lamented Ruby Bernardo, ACT Chairperson.
ACT slammed the glaring irony of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) National Teachers’ Month theme, “Teacher, ikaw naman!”, amid the stark realities confronting educators: salaries that remain far from decent and livable, paltry benefits, inhumane workloads, unpaid extra work, deplorable classroom and school conditions due to chronic shortages and backlogs, underfunded and limited promotion system, and inadequate government support.
“Kaming teachers na naman, kami naman lagi ang taya. Kailan ba hindi ipinasan sa amin ang dagdag na trabaho at gastusin dahil sa kulang na guro, kawani, silid-aralan, at pasilidad? Kailan ba hindi ikinarga sa amin ang pagpapatupad ng mga ura-uradang pagbabagong hindi naman kami kinonsulta at inihanda? Kami rin ang laging napag-iiwanan sa makabuluhang dagdag-sweldo, benepisyo, at suporta. Kami rin ang laging sinisisi at pinupuna sa hikahos naming pamumuhay, sa krisis sa pagkatuto, at maging sa lumalalang karahasan sa loob at labas ng paaralan habang nalilihis ang responsibilidad at pananagutan sa gobyerno,” Bernardo emphasized.
ACT underscored that both the current and proposed education budgets expose the government’s continuing undervaluing of teachers and education workers, whose longstanding conditions remain defined by being overworked, underpaid, and undersupported.
The group said the Marcos Jr. administration’s claim that education is among its top priorities is nothing but a sham. Despite the government’s much-touted “historic” education budget, ACT stressed that funding remains far below international standards and is grossly insufficient to address the mounting shortages and backlogs in basic and higher education.
ACT challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., lawmakers, and education agencies to go beyond empty tributes and genuinely honor educators by acting on their just and urgent demands:
1) P50,000 entry-level salary for public and private school teachers, and teaching personnel in state and local universities and colleges; P36,000 for Salary Grade 1 Employees;
2) Humane working conditions by removing the ARAL program and other administrative and non-teaching tasks from teachers’ regular workload;
3) Higher education funding equivalent to at least 6% of the country’s GDP to address chronic shortages and ensure quality public education;
4) Inclusive, equitable, and adequately funded promotion opportunities for teachers and education workers;
5) Repeal of foreign dictates in the curriculum and an overhaul toward a nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented education;
6) End to all forms of attacks on the rights and freedoms of education workers;
7) Just compensation, benefits, and protection for teacher-poll workers.
“Mula Setyembre hanggang mismong Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga Guro, sama-samang kikilos ang mga guro ng bayan para itambol at kamtin ang aming kagyat at makatwirang mga kahingian. Bukod sa anumang selebrasyon, pagpupugay at pagkilala, ang kailangan namin ay tunay na pagpapahalaga at konkretong hakbang ng gobyerno upang iangat ang aming kalagayan at ibangon ang edukasyon,” ended Bernardo.#
