The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines has criticized the Duterte administration for its supposed "poor performance" in the country's education system.
"Less than a week before President Duterte delivers his last SONA, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines gave the administration a failing mark for his consistently poor performance in delivering his mandates and fulfilling his promises to the education sector," the group said in a statement on Tuesday, July 20.
ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio said that the "state of the education sector only grew worse in the last five years."
"We never received the promised doubling of our pay; private school teachers and staff are still mostly contractuals; education access and quality continue to suffer due to severely lacking funds; more students are denied their right to education. Duterte failed the education sector," said Basilio.
The group added that the "education crisis only grew more severe" when the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic hit the country. It said that the government implemented "ill-prepared and under supported distance learning."
“Instead of addressing these problems as is the duty of a public servant, the tyrant Duterte went after those who dared expose his criminal neglect, who dared demand better wages and benefits, who dared stand up for their students’ right to education, who dared teach about and exercise their rights and freedoms," said Basilio.
"Teacher-unionists are being red-tagged, charged with trumped up cases, jailed. Schools are accused of being ‘communist breeding grounds.’ Academic freedom is attacked," he added.
The group said that Duterte must be "kicked out."
“We've had enough of incompetent leadership and total abandonment, especially at a time of severe and mounting crises. President Duterte must be kicked out,” said Basilio.