The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) stressed that many of the cases filed against public school teachers do not stem from abuse or misconduct, but from long-standing and unresolved problems in the country’s education system.
Because of this, the group is once again calling for the immediate implementation of the Teacher Protection Policy.
According to the TDC, their call is backed by the results of a recent survey among teachers who have experienced or witnessed complaints related to child abuse arising from incidents inside classrooms.
Respondents pointed to systemic issues in the education sector, such as large class sizes; the absence or severe shortage of guidance counselors and SPED teachers; and the lack of clear and workable discipline mechanisms agreed upon by schools, parents, and students.
Some teachers also said that while regulations governing educators are strict, protections for teachers facing complaints remain weak.
TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said these findings show that the system is unfair to teachers.
Because of this, the group maintains that the Teacher Protection Policy is essential to ensure that existing child protection laws are not weaponized against teachers, but instead are used to protect them from baseless accusations, harassment, social media shaming, extortion, and sensationalism.
In closing, Basas emphasized that if the true goal is the welfare of children, teachers must also be protected at the same time.
(PHOTO COURTESY: DepEd)
