Philippines
Metro Manila
Muntinlupa City Council leader says death of teacher a call for DepEd to protect personnel's health
Muntinlupa City Council leader says death of teacher a call for DepEd to protect personnel's health
The majority floor leader of the Muntinlupa City Council said the death of high school teacher Agnes Buenafor should serve as a wake-up call for the Department of Education to further protect the health of educators.
“The death of teacher Agnes Buenaflor should be a lesson for all stakeholders in education, most especially for the Department of Education,” said Councilor Raul Corro, majority floor leader.
Buenaflor taught the Filipino subject to Grade 7 students at Pedro E. Diaz High School in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
On Jan. 7, during a classroom observation, Buenaflor collapsed. She was taken to a hospital but passed away. She was 58.
Her death sparked calls from teachers and teachers’ groups for DepEd to review its policy on classroom observation of teachers.
Classroom observation is a DepEd policy to assess a teacher’s classroom performance.
“During the actual classroom observation, the ratee (teacher) shall deliver the lesson. For purposes of rating the performance, classroom observations shall be done for the entire class period,” according to DepEd Memorandum 089 dated Oct. 1 last year.
Corro said, “We have a serious crisis in education today with the Philippines lagging behind in learning competencies among Asian countries.”
“But more than the severe lack of classrooms, books and other facilities, we need to address and give priority to the health and wellness of our teachers who are the most important asset in our efforts at upgrading the quality of education in our country,” he said.
Corro said teachers should not be saddled with other administrative tasks.
“Teachers must not be overburdened with other administrative tasks that will affect their health and will impact on their competence,” he said.
He said, “I call on DepEd to implement a policy that will further protect and promote the health and wellness of our teachers as they perform their delicate task in building our nation’s future through the education of our children.”
Teachers’ groups, including the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition and Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) NCR Union, mourned the death of Buenaflor and called on DepEd to review the policy and “exercise compassion and consideration in the working conditions of teachers and personnel.”
In a statement on Jan. Violeta M. Gonzales, schools division superintendent of the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Muntinlupa said, “Ms. Buenaflor was not only a remarkable educator but also a cherished mentor who profoundly impacted the lives of countless students and colleagues alike.”
It added, “In response to this unforeseen event, staff from Pedro E. Diaz High School acted swiftly, administering first aid and ensuring that Ms. Buenaflor was transported to the hospital for urgent medical attention. Despite our collective efforts and hope, we are heartbroken to report that she did not survive.”