Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines once again urged the government to make amends and compensate teachers for their “extended work” in the school year (SY) 2021-2022.
The group previously criticized the Department of Education (DepEd) after receiving reports from educators across the country that they are still "mandated to physically report to school" beyond DepEd’s school year calendar, calling this act a “new form of forced labor.”
“DepEd should recompense all teachers from all over the country for at least one week of extended work as we were required to report for work from June 27 to July 1,” said ACT Philippine Chairperson Vladimer Quetua in a press statement on Friday, July 15.
Based on DepEd’s calendar, June 24 was the last day of the SY 2021-2022.
“It is only right to give teachers additional compensation for their extended work days. Teachers should have been under paid leave during this time and should have been given an additional rate plus 25 percent based on the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers and other orders. If the DepEd does not have funds then teachers should be given service credit of 1.2 days for every day of extended work,” Quetua furthered.
While only 197 of the 209 class days were used in the academic year due to the declaration of health break, ACT Philippines stood their ground and reiterated that these were sufficient to “meet” their teaching objectives.