WOMEN teachers and other education workers steered away from laptop screens on Sunday to dance and fly kites to celebrate the International Women’s Day.

The educators also participated in a protest activity at the University of the Philippines to highlight the burdens they faced during the pandemic and distance learning.

They tied purple ribbons on the trees along UP Academic Oval bearing the calls to upgrade teachers’ salaries, safe schools, and academic freedom. They also flew giant kites bearing the same demands. To culminate the event, education workers danced to the tune of Isang Bilyong Babae ang Babangon.

“It is the women who have suffered the most during this pandemic. More women workers have lost their jobs and more girls had to stop their schooling, and were forced to stay at home which made them more vulnerable to domestic abuse,” Ruby Ann Bernardo, Alliance of Concerned Teachers spokesperson, said.

“We are here to make a stand for our rights and demand accountability for a government that has not only neglected, but continuously attacked our freedom. Today, we call on all women education workers to unite and forward our fight: Sahod, benepisyo, karapatan, ligtas na aaralan, ipaglaban!” Bernardo said.

She said that with 80 percent of teachers being women, they struggle to sustain their families with their meager salaries. The teachers also struggle to care for their children with whatever time and energy left after the draining duties under distance learning.

“Mag-iisang taon na tayo sa quarantine ngunit wala pa ring kongkretong plano para masolusyonan ang patong-patong na krisis at nakasarado pa rin ang mga paaralan,” Bernardo said.

She lamented that the delayed release of teachers’ benefits added to their burdens.

“Grabeng pahirap na ang pinapasan ng mga guro. Dumoble ang trabaho namin sa distance learning samantalang matatapos na ang termino ni Duterte ay wala pa rin ang pangakong pagdoble sa aming suweldo,” Bernardo lamented.