Teachers should be heard, too, says solon

The Department of Education (DepEd) should have a mechanism where teachers’ grievances can be heard and addressed, House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo lawmaker Janette Garin said on Tuesday.

Garin made the remarks in light of the public school teacher who drew flak online after being seen scolding her students over their alleged lack of respect and good manners.

“That is where the [DepEd] management should come into play. It is a very big institution and there should be a command or a chain where they (teachers) can vent out their problems,” she said in a press conference.

“Syempre ngayon marami ang nagagalit sa kanya (teacher in the viral video) and on one hand, hindi lang rin natin alam kung ilan sa ating public school teachers are feeling the same.  DepEd should look into this, and a solution should be in place,” Garin added.

(There are a lot of people who were mad at her, but on the other hand, we don’t know how many of our public school teachers are feeling the same.)

The DepEd has yet to impose sanctions on the viral teacher, saying the matter is still under investigation. 

The department, however, already asked the concerned teacher to explain her actions in the viral video. 

Education Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas also clarified that there are no reasons to bar the teacher from going to school and that no one has filed a complaint yet against her. 

DepEd’s child protection policy states that ”any act by deeds or words that debases, degrades, or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being” is considered child abuse.

Bringas also said that DepEd Order Number 49 or the Professionalism in the Implementation and Delivery of Basic Education Programs and Services prohibits public school teachers from streaming live on social media platforms.—LDF, GMA Integrated News