A group of teachers is urging the government to go beyond reforms and address the root of the education crisis
Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT) held a press conference at Kamuning Bakery Cafe today to discuss issues affecting the education sector before the start of the 2026-2027 academic year which will open on June 8.
According to ASERT, the problems that the education sector faces every year do not change.
“This coming start of classes, there is a shortage of 165,000 classrooms. There is a shortage of 30,000 teachers,” ASSERT Central Luzon Union council representative Ediesa P. Mendoza said in Filipino while reading the group’s official statement.
This group also said that there is change fatigue caused by educational reforms that are introduced and implemented quickly without proper preparation and consultation with teachers.
“Every time there’s a new administration, it seems like there’s a new change they need to make — a new approach.” Ms. Mendoza said this in Filipino when she read their statement.
“It interferes with long-term planning [of the education system],” he added.
ASSERT said they welcome the new reforms in education introduced by DepEd as long as it will ensure to address the problem of learning, will not be an additional burden on public school teachers, and will ultimately improve the quality of education.
The group said that despite many changes, Republic Act (RA) 4670 of 1966 or the Magna Carta of Public Teachers remains ineffective.
RA 4670 aims to improve the social and economic welfare of public school teachers by improving their living and working conditions, employment terms, and job opportunities, to ensure that they remain competitive with other jobs.
“The Magna Carta has excellent provisions—it only needs to be implemented. There will be no need to make new laws. Using the Magna Carta is attractive and a great relief to teachers,” ASERT national president Arlene James S. Pagaduan said in Filipino during a press conference.
ASSERT also discussed the recent report of The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) which showed that 87% of 11th graders in the Philippines are below grade-level reading expectations and the implementation of the Strong High School Curriculum (SSHS) under Division Memorandum (DM) 036, s. 2026.
“The problem here is the main courses they removed are the ones that develop critical thinking in our students. That is what helps them to be skilled and that is what they removed. Then it was changed according to the needs of the labor market,” said Mr. Pagaduan during a press conference.
“Courses should be increased [and the] important lessons that help them develop should not be removed. This will help in sharpening the minds of the students,” he added.
The group calls on DepEd and the Philippine government to address this education crisis from its roots.
“You can’t just introduce changes that sound good but don’t look at the roots of the organization [education] problem.” ASSERT said so in a statement read by its public relations officer Mary Rose B. Caguillo.
“Education is a public duty and the primary responsibility of the state.” Mrs. Caguillo said. – Kaizzer Angel Marie V. Manuba
