TEACHERS’ Dignity Coalition leaders have met with incoming Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara and discussed the concerns of the teachers.

TDC said that their meeting went “well” and it was “meaningful.”

According to TDC, the leaders presented the 10 main issues of teachers that they want Angara to focus on. Angara responded “positively” regarding their concerns and vowed to focus on those during his DepEd leadership.

These include salary increases, adjustment of the promotion system, revoking the RPMS, adjustment of the GSIS, providing protection to teachers, strengthening the curriculum, ensuring school equipment and facilities, and others.

The two camps vowed that they would be open for communication on DepEd matters.

TDC earlier listed those matters that need immediate attention.

These are:

1. Support legislation proposing salary increases for teachers.
2. Implement the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670) welfare provisions.
3. Provide mandatory legal support for teachers facing charges while on duty.
4. Incorporate discipline enforcement into the child protection policy.
5. Implement DepEd Orders No. 2 and 5, s. 2024, addressing administrative task reduction and overtime pay for teachers.
6. Reform the GSIS or establish a separate insurance system for teachers.
7. Simplify the employee performance rating system by abolishing the RPMS and providing comprehensive, free training for teachers.
8. Expedite the promotion system, particularly for senior high school teachers, and implement the career progression policy outlined in EO 174.
9. Address resource shortages, including classrooms, instructional materials, and support personnel such as guidance counselors, librarians, health workers, and other non-academic staff
10. Revise the curriculum to align with our socio-cultural context and reinstate Philippine history in high school.