Teachers spend own money, resources to buy gadgets for work - Teachers' Group

Teachers have no choice but to use own funds to buy gadgets with DepEd's lack of support - teacher solon

Assistant Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Representative France Castro raised alarm over a recent DOST-NRCP study showing teachers spending their own money to buy gadgets and internet services to facilitate blended distance learning. With the recent COA findings on the lapses in utilization of funds under Bayanihan 1 and 2 and the validity and propriety of materials for its Learning Continuity Program, the teacher solon said that DepEd should have been able to provide better support to teachers. 

"The DOST-NRCP study further proves that our public school teachers are highly undersupported in the Department of Education's blended distance learning program," Castro said. "The study revealed that most of their participants had to use their own personal money to acquire devices such as laptops, mobile phones, printers and internet connection services to fulfill their duties and facilitate blended distance learning. This is not surprising especially with DepEd and the Duterte administration's skewed budget prioritization."

"Lalong nakakabahala ang mga datos na ito lalo na matapos lumabas ang findings ng COA na nagsasabing may nakita itong lapses sa utilization of funds na umaabot sa P3.2 bilyong piso sa ilalim ng Bayanihan 1 at 2 at may mga hindi mapatunayan na validity at propriety ng paggastos sa Learning Continuity Program na umaabot sa P4 bilyon," Castro added. 

"The Department of Education cannot say they do not have enough funds to support our teachers. With the recent COA findings, the Department of Education and the Duterte administration simply would rather misuse taxpayers' money, sleep on urgent programs and projects, and pay no heed to the people's needs instead of adequately providing support to our frontliners in social services like education and health," Castro stated. 

"Teachers have long been demanding for better budget prioritization especially as we continue to face another pandemic school year. We echo the recommendation of the DOST-NRCP study for an additional budget for internet allowances of teachers, equip our teachers with the technologies they need and support for their students," Castro said. "Hindi maitatawid ang nakaraang pandemic school year kung hindi dahil sa sakripisyo at abono sa pondo para sa blended distance learning ng ating mga guro. Dapat lang na dagdagan ang pondo para maibigay ang sapat na suporta para sa mga guro at mag-aaral." 

"Kulang na nga ang suporta na binibigay ng gobyerno sa ating mga guro, binabarat pa sila sa sweldo habang napag-iwanan na sila ng mga pulis at militar," Castro stated. "The entry level salary of public school teachers remain at salary grade 11 or P23,877. This is a far cry from their demand of upgrading their salaries to Salary Grade 15 or P33,575. Napakaliit na nga ng sweldo ng mga guro, mula pa sa sariling bulsa ang ginagamit na panggastos para sa mga gamit panturo lalo ngayong panahon ng blended distance learning."

"It is to no surprise that the DOST study also shows that more than 90% of the teachers said that the students need remediation because their students learn less in the current learning continuity program of the DepEd," Castro stated. "With these factors, there is no doubt that we are experiencing a worsening education crisis in the country. There is no one else to blame but the failed, neglectful and inutile Duterte administration."

"Investing in the needs of our teachers by giving them just remuneration, ensuring that they will not have out-of-pocket expenses, and removing teaching overloads and non-teaching duties will be the key factors to perform better in their teaching tasks and provide the youth access to quality education," Castro ended.##

PRESS RELEASE

19 August 2021

Source: ACT Teachers Partylist

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