Thousands of teachers on Friday, November 28, halted regular classes to demand justice, decent pay, and systemic reforms in the Philippine education sector.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) led a nationwide sit-down strike, with 237 schools across 34 major cities and provinces in 14 regions participating during the first half of the day.

“This strike is a collective act of truth-telling,” said ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo. “Teachers are turning their classrooms into spaces of critical learning, exposing how corruption and government neglect have pushed our schools and communities into deeper crisis,” she added.

ACT said that despite “attempts to discourage” participation through gag orders, surveillance, and warnings of possible consequences, classrooms across the country became hubs of protest and political education.

Educators conducted full-day alternative classes to discuss the worsening crisis in public education, including chronic shortages, corruption, and bureaucratic inefficiencies, the group added.

ACT alleged that some Department of Education (DepEd) regional and division offices “issued directives” discouraging teachers from joining the sit-down strike and warning them of possible “consequences” if they participated.

“Ang protesta ng teachers ngayon ay ligal at lehitimo, at para sa ikabubuti ng buong bayan (The teachers’ protest today is legal and legitimate, and for the good of the entire nation),” said Bernardo, stressing that no memo can criminalize the constitutional right of teachers to protest unjust conditions.

“No memo, no threat, and no bureaucratic scare tactic can silence our demand for justice, a living wage, and an end to systemic corruption,” she added.

ACT said the teachers’ protest centered on four urgent demands driving the nationwide action: doubling the education budget to address classroom, personnel, and basic education shortages; a living wage and long-overdue salary upgrades; accountability for corruption that has weakened schools and public trust; and meaningful social and systemic reforms to end recurring crises in public education.

Throughout the day, ACT said, learning spaces turned into forums for discussions on bureaucratic capitalism, mismanagement of public funds, and the devastating effects of anomalous infrastructure projects.

Bernardo emphasized that the strike also reinforced the broader goals of education, including social justice, human rights, environmental protection, and good governance.

“Once again, teachers have made history,” she said. “Today, we have fulfilled the ultimate goals of education—to espouse social justice, human rights, environmental protection, and good governance.”

Bernardo also acknowledged the courage and unity of teachers. “If the government refuses to fix the crisis, teachers will continue to act collectively—and the movement will only grow stronger,” she added.

ACT vowed to escalate efforts for genuine reform and accountability in the education sector.

“Hangga’t nananatiling bulok ang sistemang pumapatay sa serbisyo publiko, patuloy na lalaban ang makabayan, militante, at progresibong mga guro (As long as the rotten system that destroys public service remains, patriotic, militant, and progressive teachers will continue to fight),” Bernardo said.