Two years in a pandemic was more than enough to expose the worsening cracks in our country’s education system. The slow and ineffective response of the government primarily affected and targeted educators. The condition of teachers worsened during the pandemic, and now they are further burdened as we enter the new normal.
Most areas in the country are now under Alert Levels 1 and 2, and while most establishments are starting to operate, the reopening of schools is also expected. This could have been an exciting news especially if the calls for #LigtasNaBalikEskwela is carefully implemented. However, the government passes on the burden to the teachers.
The statements of Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on March 14 and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) on April 6 reported that teachers spend their own money for the preparation of limited face-to-face classes in their respective schools. Retrofitting classrooms has fallen on underpaid teachers, and they have been shelling out their own resources to buy paint, iron sheets, and glass panes for the classrooms to meet the standards to qualify for the safe reopening of schools.
The teachers’ group can’t help but ask, “where is the allocated budget?” The Department of Education (DepEd) has allotted an additional budget of P1 billion to prepare schools for the expanded implementation of in-person classes. However, ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio shared that upon interviewing teachers and school heads, it has come to their attention that they have not received the said budget from DepEd and Department of Health (DOH) to fund the requirements for preparation of limited face-to-face classes.
Why are teachers sacrificing their already meager salaries in preparing schools? Teachers have already been taken advantage of and like what Eduk Naman, a non-governmental organization, commented, “Hindi na nga sapat ang kita ng mga guro, abonado pa sila.”
Some teachers are further burdened by the effort of soliciting funds and loans just to have the money to buy the needs to prepare their classrooms. According to TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas, the teachers are pressured to use their own resources. The teachers even said “if the classroom would not be improved, it’s the teacher’s fault,” reported Basas.
Basas admitted, “Dati pang nag-aabono ang mga guro para sa pangangailangan ng paaralan.” DepEd has long neglected the calls and demands of teachers. For example, DepEd has failed to deliver its promise of providing modules for students nationwide in June last year. According to the TDC Chair, teachers, as usual, “go out of their way” by using their own money for printing to ensure that there are no students left behind.
Teachers have already done more than their duty as educators and most have even extended compassion and consideration in distance learning because of the negligence of the government.
“Lalo nitong panahon ng pandemya kung saan halos ang mga guro din ang gumagawa ng paraan para sa modules. Ngayong babalik na ang face-to-face classes, mga guro pa rin ba ang kailangang gumawa ng paraan?” Basas said.
“If there is a budget for this program, why should teachers sacrifice their finances? There is nothing wrong with volunteering nor offering financial help,” said the TDC chair. However a budget as big as P1 billion should be allocated properly, otherwise relying on initiatives and donations would be a form of exploitation. The DepEd should ensure that the budget is utilized and distributed swiftly on the ground to free teachers of financial burdens in preparation for the reopening of schools.
Teachers experience just as much stress and frustration in this setup as students do. The distance learning workload negatively impacts their physical and mental health because of extended work hours and lack of sufficient support from the government.
We support the reopening of schools if and only if DepEd facilitates the preparation needed to ensure safety as learners and educators go back to the traditional mode of learning. Both teachers and students have experienced more than enough of a learning crisis that the need for physical learning is needed more than ever, especially now that most areas in the country are under Alert Level 1.
Not all teachers can endure the burden of spending from their own pockets. Not all teachers are passionate enough to keep an occupation that troubles them. Teachers are assets of the educational institution and the government can’t afford to lose them at this point. DepEd should be aware of the conditions that their teachers are forced to endure.
We call on DepEd to distribute the funds swiftly and for it to be used accordingly for the reopening of schools. We urge the government to be hands on and not burden the teachers any longer. They’ve had enough, the only thing they haven’t got much of is a deserved amount of salary.
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