Teachers’ group endorses Robredo-Pangilinan tandem

Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.

MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines on Sunday endorsed the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who are running for president, and vice president, respectively.

The group said it chooses to work with the tandem in pushing for a “common agenda that will address the grave crisis that currently beset the Philippine education system.”

“Never has education been as disrupted in recent history as now under the COVID-19 pandemic. Too many months of school closure and the ill-planned and under-supported blended learning program have pushed more children and youth, by the millions, out of school; have left teachers, students, and parents grappling with mounting challenges on their own; and have resulted to miserable learning outcomes,” ACT Philippines said in a statement.

“The reigning tyranny, culture of impunity, and historical revisionism reflect the shortcomings of education in its mandate to bolster patriotism, democratic values, and respect of human rights. Teachers and education support personnel suffer from low salaries, inadequate benefits, wanting social protection, and poor working conditions. Academic freedom is under siege,” it added.

The group’s support for Robredo and Pangilinan is grounded on the following similar stands and education platforms:

-Increase education budget to the equivalent of six percent of the gross domestic product to fulfill the right of every Filipino to free and quality education

-Safely reopen schools nationwide, provide the needs of blended learning, and grant aid to retrenched education workers and small private schools

-Review the K–12 program; strengthen the teaching of Philippine history, Filipino, and other local languages, gender, environment, and human rights; invest in research and development; and ensure inclusive education for excluded groups

-Grant substantial salary increase to teachers and education support personnel, improve their benefits and social protection, promote professional development, and safeguard security of tenure

-Uphold academic freedoms for all education institutions and union rights of education workers

For ACT Philippines, the reforms can be achieved by electing a pro-education administration that discusses issues with stakeholders.

“Team Leni-Kiko has the most exemplary track record among all presidential and vice-presidential candidates in responding to the needs of education,” the group said.

“They also present the most substantive, concrete, and viable platform for education, as well as for tackling the current health and economic crisis and upholding peace, democracy, and human rights,” it pointed out.

/MUF