The Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) called on the executive and legislative agencies to institutionalize the needed protection for teachers amid the viral video of an alleged teacher scolding her students.
“While we will never tolerate any wrongdoing by our colleagues in the profession, we will defend their right to due process, enshrined not only in the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers but also in the Philippine Constitution,” TDC said.
The Department of Education (DepEd) said it would verify the report from the field but has yet to provide additional updates on the matter.
'Always at a disadvantage': Group calls for protection of teachers amid viral TikTok video
Mar 18, 2024 04:41 AM
At a glance
As the video of an alleged teacher scolding her students made its rounds online, a group called for the protection of their fellow teachers on Monday, March 18.
“Teachers are always at a disadvantage,” said Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) National Chairperson Benjo Basas in a statement.
TDC issued the statement as the video of an alleged teacher went viral over the weekend.
The video, currently accessible on social media platforms, shows a woman wearing a teacher's uniform and lecturing students who, she claims, were disrespecting her.
The alleged teacher live-streamed her outburst on TikTok Live. While there were no students visible or audible in the video, the “teacher” appeared to be inside a classroom and was recording herself using her phone.
During the two-minute video, the woman can be heard lashing out at her students using foul language.
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Over the weekend, the Department of Education (DepEd) said it would verify the report from the field.
As of this writing, it remained unclear if the woman in the video was a teacher by profession.
DepEd has yet to provide additional updates on the matter.
Protecting teachers
As this developed, TDC called on the executive and legislative agencies to institutionalize the needed protection for teachers.
“While we will never tolerate any wrongdoing by our colleagues in the profession, we will defend their right to due process, enshrined not only in the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers but also in the Philippine Constitution,” Basas said.
To protect teachers, TDC proposed several measures for the consideration of both Houses of Congress, the DepEd, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and all other relevant government agencies.
Among the proposals of the group is reducing the class size to a maximum of 30 students per classroom.
The group is also pushing for the provision of higher salaries, a lighter workload, and sick and vacation leave benefits for classroom teachers. This is to ensure their physical and mental health and to maintain a stable work-life balance for them.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/28/deped-urged-to-ease-inhumane-workload-of-public-school-teachers/
TDC also underscored the need to create more Special Education (SPED) centers and hire SPED teachers based on needs, as well as professionalizing the school guidance and counseling system and hiring registered guidance counselors with a salary grade based on their qualifications.
There is also a need to institutionalize alternative school discipline policies agreed upon by school administrators, teachers, parents, and learners and amend certain provisions of RA 7610 entitled “An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination, and for Other Purposes,” TDC said.
“We believe that implementing these proposals will not only benefit teachers and provide them with protection, but also ensure that our students receive proper guidance and protection as well,” TDC added.
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