THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers-National Capital Region Union gave outgoing Education Secretary Leonor Briones a failing grade for allegedly abandoning teachers and her failure to address the education crisis.

“For six years, Secretary Briones has outrightly contradicted our call for substantial salary increase, instead of supporting it. The release of our benefits were most delayed under her leadership, and she even refused to compensate the 77 days of extra work that she made us render last school year,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s president, said.

“During the pandemic, the DepEd has not given any institutional support to our colleagues who fell ill and even succumbed to Covid19. She deserves no less than a failing grade for her callousness to our teachers’ welfare,” he added.

Quetua said that the workload and out-of-pocket expenses of teachers ballooned in the last six years due to the government’s neglect of the needs of the education sector.

He cited the lack of classrooms and equipment and the shortage of teachers.

“This got even worse during the pandemic when we saw the abject unpreparedness of the government for distance learning. Kami ang bumili ng laptop, nagbayad ng internet, bumili ng ink at papel, at nagprint ng module. Sobra ang naging pahirap ng administrasyong ito sa ating mga guro,” Quetua said.

He denounced Briones’ refusal to face teachers in dialogues.

“Despite countless letters, Secretary Briones did not once meet us and hear out our concerns. With this kind of leadership style how can we expect her to solve the pressing problems on the ground?” Quetua asked.

“We call on VP-elect [,Sara] Duterte to be more democratic and consultative in her style of leadership and not repeat the mistakes of Secretary Briones, the future and quality of education of our children depend on it,” he said.