Rain or shine, schools start classes today

MANILA, Philippines — The opening of classes will proceed in most schools across the country today even as some areas affected by the recent typhoon, monsoon rains and flooding, including Metro Manila, are asking for a week’s postponement.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara ordered a case-by-case approach upon President Marcos’ orders to push through with the school opening, except in areas where it is not feasible.

In areas severely affected, local government executives and school officials have the authority to postpone classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced.

Public school teachers are asking mayors in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces to reschedule the school opening in their constituencies to allow their residents, students and teachers more time to prepare for the school year following the massive flooding that hit their areas last week.

The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) made the appeal due to the need to consider “the physical, psychological and financial preparedness” of parents, students and teachers following the onslaught of Typhoon Carina.

“It is not only the readiness of the school that needs to be considered, but also the physical, psychological and financial readiness of the parents, children and even the teachers… Many of our citizens were affected, and some of them lost their homes or damaged equipment. Others even lost their loved ones,” TDC chairman Benjo Basas said.

Latest data from the DepEd showed that 979 schools across five regions would not be opening classes today due to the need to clean and rehabilitate public schools affected by Carina.

Of this number, 452 are in Central Luzon, 231 in Ilocos region, 225 in Metro Manila, 67 in Calabarzon and four are in Central Visayas.

“So now, we are calling on our mayors and governors to use their authority to consider at least one week’s postponement and talk to their respective constituents. And, if possible, parents and teachers would be consulted directly,” Basas said, emphasizing that the assessments of some school and DepEd field officials may not accurately reflect the true situation and sentiments on the ground.

The one-week delay will not only give families more time to address their problems, but also provide the DepEd with the opportunity to thoroughly prepare.

The education department also reported that 19,268,747 public school students had already enrolled for school year 2024-2025.

The breakdown showed that 16,794,173 students are enrolled in public schools while 2,244,867 students are enrolled in private schools.

Meanwhile, 23,875 students are enrolled in state and local universities and colleges offering basic education and 205,832 students enrolled under the Alternative Learning System.

Per education level, elementary schools have the most number of enrollees with 10,487,481 students, followed by junior high schools with 5,851,382 and senior high schools with 2,724,052.

Benefits, protection for teachers

In another education-related development, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian vowed to push for more legislation that would institutionalize benefits and protection for teachers after Marcos’ commitment to upholding the welfare of teachers.

One of these is Senate Bill 2493 or the proposed Revised Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, which amends Republic Act 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

The proposed amendments include the grant of calamity leave, educational benefits and longevity pay; the circumstances and conditions on the grant of special hardship allowance; enrichment of the criteria for salaries and the protection of teachers from out-of-pocket expenses.

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate committee on basic education, said he is eyeing to file a bill that would institutionalize the career progression system for public school teachers.

The senator hailed Marcos’ commitment to upholding the welfare of teachers, a priority that the Chief Executive emphasized in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“I am grateful to our President because he paid attention to the welfare of our teachers in his SONA. The success of the education system depends on our teachers, which is why we will continue to promote bills to increase their benefits and promote their welfare,” Gatchalian said.

Among the achievements that he lauded in Marcos’ third SONA is the signing of Republic Act 11997 or the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, a law that will increase the teaching allowance from P5,000 to P10,000 starting SY 2025-2026.

The President also said that public school teachers would receive personal accident insurance from the Government Service Insurance System and a special hardship allowance.

He further said that the practice of “utang-tagging,” which prevents teachers from renewing their licenses, shall end.

Marcos also mentioned in his SONA that funds would be allocated to implement the career progression system to promote public school teachers’ professional development and career advancement.

Under the expanded system, teachers can choose between the teaching and school administration tracks, which would accelerate and offer ample growth opportunities for public school teachers.

The President said that under this system, no more public school teacher shall retire as Teacher I. – Cecille Suerte Felipe