By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Deputy Speaker and Pangasinan Rep. Rose Marie Arenas is proposing declaring Oct. 5, World Teachers' Day, as a non-working day for public and private school teachers.
(Jojo Riñoza / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Arenas pushed for the adoption of House Resolution No. 152 seeking such a declaration.
"Teachers cannot celebrate World Teachers' Day in the same way as the working people celebrate Labor Day on May 1 because October 5 is a working day," she said.
She cited the need to recognize the contributions and strategic role of Filipino teachers in nation-building.
"The typical day of basic education teachers in particular, in the public sector is characterized by waking up early after late night preparations, commuting, trekking, and long hours of walk in the case of teachers in far-flung areas, teaching often times big number of students in a crowded classroom and equally challenging teaching environment, doing daily lesson log, detailed lesson planning, and rigid document-centered new performance system not to mention class observations and other administrative work, " Arenas said.
She noted that the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Oct. 5 of every year as "World Teachers' Day" to honor the daily heroism and great sacrifices of teachers around the world.
Under House Resolution 152, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher and Technical Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and local government units (LGUs), along with local colleges and universities, are expected to hold regular dialogues and consultations with teachers or faculty organizations.
On August 24, 2011, former President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Proclamation 242 declaring the period from Sept. 5 to Oct. 5 of every year as "National Teachers' Month."