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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Teachers' group challenges gov't officials: Enroll your kids in public schools, attend PTA meetings

Teachers' group challenges gov't officials: Enroll your kids in public schools, attend PTA meetings

Published Aug 18, 2025 02:53 pm
Teachers’ Dignity Coalition urges government officials to enroll their children in public schools and attend PTA meetings to address the Philippine education crisis. (Manila Bulletin / file)
Teachers’ Dignity Coalition urges government officials to enroll their children in public schools and attend PTA meetings to address the Philippine education crisis. (Manila Bulletin / file)
To prove their commitment to education, a teachers’ group has challenged government leaders to enroll their children in public schools.
In a viral social media post, Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) National Chairperson Benjo Basas proposed a law that would mandate all elected officials—from barangay kagawads to the President, as well as other high-ranking government leaders—to send their children to public schools from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
“We need a law requiring all elected politicians and other high-ranking officials to enroll their children in public schools from Kinder to Grade 12,” Basas said. “At dapat dumalo sila sa PTA [Parents-Teachers Association] meeting (They should also attend PTA meetings),” he added.
Experiencing the education system firsthand
Basas explained that such a measure would serve three purposes:
- encourage officials to demonstrate pride and trust in the public education system;
- allow them to experience firsthand the challenges faced by students, parents, and teachers; and
- push policymakers to prioritize funding for classrooms, facilities, school safety, curriculum improvement, and teacher welfare.
Classroom shortages and teacher workload issues
The group’s call comes amid mounting concerns over the state of the Philippine public education system.
Persistent problems include classroom shortages, resource gaps, heavy teacher workloads, and questions over DepEd’s policies on curriculum and learning delivery.
“Ang problema na lang ay kung sino ang magiging sponsor ng bill na ito (The only remaining issue is who will sponsor this bill),” Basas said, noting the difficulty of finding legislators willing to author such a proposal.
RELATED STORY: 
https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/13/teachers-groups-to-tulfo-stop-blaming-ptasfix-chronic-underfunding-of-public-schools

Related Tags

Philippine public schools Teachers Dignity Coalition education crisis classroom shortage teacher workload PTA meetings DepEd policy
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