As the new school year opened in public schools, Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Monday, Sept. 13, cited the efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd) - under the Duterte administration - to push for the welfare of teachers.
“Never have our teachers been as well protected and better paid as now,” Briones said during the virtual National School Opening Day program.
In particular, Briones said that DepEd has “succeeded in increasing the salaries and benefits of our teachers and non-teaching staff.” Currently, Briones explained that DepEd is “negotiating” with Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for additional teaching positions such as Teachers IV - VII, as well as Master Teacher V.
While the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered work arrangements - including so-called skeletal office structures - Briones said that “this has not prevented us from ensuring that even with a lean administrative staff, we always see to it that our people are always paid in a timely manner, including additional benefits.”
Briones added that DepEd’s staff not only work from home but their workplace has also become their home. “In conclusion, we open classes today in celebration of our victories and successes,” she said.
However, teachers’ groups did not agree with Briones’ pronouncement.
“There is the perennial and now even a bigger issue of DepEd’s disregard for the rights and welfare of teachers,” said Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) in a statement.
TDC said that as early as June 2020, teachers have been working for numerous official tasks which will last until the end of the school year in July 2021.
“These tasks have stolen from them their very much needed rest time,” the group said. “They have been continuously working beyond normal hours without the pay required by law,” it added.
The group also lamented that the clerical tasks and online duties continue “up to now” and not even a national holiday was spared.
“Teachers were forced to attend a whole day virtual seminar,” TDC said. “They were not even given adequate rest to recharge physically, emotionally and mentally,” it added.
TDC said that teachers have long called for the implementation of the welfare provisions of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670) --- especially those related to their health and safety.
“But the DepEd chose to spend on trivial things that were not essential to learning and ignored the most important outlay in public education, which is its programs and policies for the welfare of our teachers,” the group lamented.
“More so, they have again denied the provisions of Magna Carta on health benefits, compensation for injuries, working hours and overtime pay and special hardship allowance, among others,” TDC added.
TDC also decried the inadequate support - such as free laptop computers and internet connectivity - for teachers which are essential expenses even without the pandemic.
“Some of our colleagues who were infected with COVID-19 and became critical, spent up to millions in hospital bills and some have died, but did not get any help and support from DepEd,” the group said.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) also slammed DepEd - especially on the “delayed release” of overtime pay for teachers.
In a separate statement, ACT urged DepEd for the immediate issuance of public school teachers’ overtime pay for the “overtime work they have rendered for 87 days and for which the agency has refused to pay.”
ACT even gave DepEd an ultimatum for the release of the said payment.
“We are giving the agency until October 5 to release the guidelines for public school teachers’ overtime pay which costs P26,605.71, and 87 days’ worth of service credits, before we claim it ourselves,” said ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio.
ACT also warned that if the agency fails to fulfill the ultimatum, public school teachers all over the country will “claim” their overtime by staging a synchronized one-day of absence.
“Our teachers have been far too patient and understanding despite the struggles they have had to endure due to government abandonment, but all they have gotten in return is negligence of their welfare,” Basilio said. “We are putting our foot down, and we say enough!” he ended.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/31/a-new-school-year-starts-in-millions-of-homes-again-2/