Advocate group calls for legal support, protection for teachers

The Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) is calling for legal support and protection for teachers.

Through TDC National Chairperson Benjo G. Basas, the group released a statement following the House Basic Education Committee hearing on the proposed Teacher Protection Policy presided by Cong. Roman Romulo on June 15.

"The Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) renewed its call for the immediate passage of a Teacher Protection Policy, citing survey findings that many complaints and child abuse cases against public school teachers arise from systemic problems in education rather than intentional misconduct," the group said.

TDC said that teachers often reported cases that stem from "routine classroom management and discipline measures that are later interpreted as abuse."

The survey respondents cited "overcrowded classrooms, the shortage of guidance counselors and SPED teachers, the absence of clear and workable discipline policies, and inadequate institutional support for teachers facing complaints."

While numerous laws and regulations manage teachers, there are few that protect them from baseless accusations.

Basas said that teachers are unfairly dealing with the consequences of systemic failures. Teachers also deal with reported experiences of public shaming, harassment, intimidation, extortion, and lack of support during investigations.

There is also a growing fear of complaints that discourages them from enforcing discipline, which ultimately affects teaching and learning.

The TDC said the proposed Teacher Protection Policy would help educators by providing "due process safeguards, protection from harassment and false accusations, legal and psychosocial support, and the development of community-agreed discipline frameworks."

It also said that quality education cannot be achieved if teachers continue to work in an atmosphere of fear.

"Dapat may certain level ng discipline na maipapakita natin 'yung awtoridad ng mga guro at ma-i-impose natin 'yung order at discipline doon sa classroom. Dahil kapagka walang disiplina, walang kaayusan sa classroom, ay hindi talaga natin matuturuan nang mabuti ang mga bata," Basas said on Dano Tingcungco's report on "24 Oras Weekend" on Sunday.

The policy also calls on free access to legal support in case they would get charged. —Nika Roque/MGP, GMA News