INCOMING Department of Education Secretary Sen. Sonny Angara assured teachers of improved teaching conditions under his leadership, including the removal of clerical work to teaching personnel.

Angara said that this would allow teachers to focus on providing the needs of the students in school.

Teachers demand a salary increase, mandatory legal support for teachers facing charges while on duty, overtime pay, and administrative task reduction, among others, according to Teachers’ Dignity Coalition.

“Gusto natin bigyan sila ng magandang teaching condition. Ibig sabihin niyan, medyo bawas bawasan natin ‘yung mga non-teaching duties nila para makapag-concentrate sila kapag may problemadong mga estudyante, puwede nilang bigyan ng karagdagang atensiyon dahil hindi sila masyadong busy sa mga clerical duties o ‘yung mga non-teaching work na ibinibigay sa kanila,” Angara said in a radio interview.

On the other hand, Angara said he was instructed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to uplift the quality of education in the country.

“’Yung curriculum medyo siguro gawin nating simple. ‘Yung pagbabasa. I think back to basic ho tayo dahil nakita nga natin na isa ‘yan sa mga instructions ni Pangulo na ‘yung quality of education dapat i-angat natin, nakikikita natin na medyo bumaba yan dito sa resulta ng eksaminasyon sa PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment)

According to the recent PISA report of PISA, the Philippines ranked as the sixth lowest among the 81 countries that participated in the said study.