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ORGANIZED public school teachers yesterday greeted the opening of the new school year with a “silent protest” even as activists took to the streets to decry the Aquino administration’s K-to-12 program while public schools continue to suffer the same old problems.

Ofelia Tabacon, vice president for northern Mindanao of the Alliance for Concerned Teachers (ACT), said public school teachers who were against the implementation of the K-to-12 program wore black armbands as a political statement, and to openly call for the stoppage if not, suspension of the K-to-12 program of the education department.

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“It’s an added burden to the parents and students. They would suffer an additional two years in the schools,” said Tabacon.

She said her group was still hoping that President Aquino would suspend the implementation of the program as a result of the growing complaints.

The start of classes yesterday highlighted recurring problems in the government’s education system such as the lack of classrooms and other facilities, textbooks, and even teachers.

Joy Sumanpan, spokesperson of the Department of Education (Deped) in Region 10, some school divisions in Region 10 reported a lack of teachers and staff members.

But the Deped regional office found out that some school divisions have actually not maximized their manpower resources, noting that there was “surplus” in teaching staffs––some teachers were given other tasks like managing school canteens and other non-teaching work.

Sumanpan said the ratio in the region is a teacher for every 55 students.

“Teachers are supposed to be assigned in the classrooms,” she said.

She said local governments can also help the school divisions using their local school board funds in case there is really a shortage of teachers.

Tabacon said organized teachers were also demanding an increase in their salaries based on Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

“We are mandated to give our family a decent way of life. Public school teachers only have a net income of P700, and are living below poverty line,” Tabacon said.

Another problem is the lack of textbooks needed for the K-to-12 program, a problem that has hounded public education for years.

At the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (Mogchs), a school teacher who requested anonymity said the biggest problem facing the K-to-12 program is the lack of learning materials, good facilities, and manpower.

He said the new program is good “but the government is unprepared for it.”

Sumanpan however said the Deped is working to deliver more learning materials such as activity sheets and modules this week.

Militant groups like Bayan Muna, Kadamay, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusang Mambubukid ng  Pilipinas, and Kalumaran  staged street demonstrations against the K-to-12 program.

Public school teacher Cornelio Salvaloza Jr., ACT chairman for Cagayan de Oro, said many teachers in the city were behind the anti-K-to-12 program protest.

“Silent protest lang kining amo, kay dili man mahimo nga mogawas kami sa among classroom ug mo-adto sa rally. Dili man kana mahimo kay mga government employees pa man gihapon kami.”

Salvaloza said the government was not prepared to fully implement the program.

“Why is it forcing the issue? We lack classrooms, books,  and teachers,” he said.

Pura Villar, principal of the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School Mogchs (Mogchs), disagreed, adding that suspending or stopping the program’s full implementation woul only complicate matters.

She said the Deped actually started implementing the program four years ago, and her school alone  has 1,692 students in 10th grade.

“As of May 29, we counted 7,900  students from Grade 7 to  Grade 10,” Villar said.

West City Central School principal Cynthia Yañez said the militant groups and ACT were incorrect in stating that the government is unprepared for the full implementation of the K-to-12 program.

Yañez also denied that the public schools lacked K-to-12 materials.

She said her school already received books related to the program, including those in Cebuano.

“Kanang libro nga Bisaya o Cebuano, ma-o kana ang among gitawag ug mother tongue. Pero dili man tanang libro Bisaya kay ubos sa program, gi-enhance man sa gobyerno ang mga reading materials kay  gipasibo niining atong bag-ong generation,” she said.

Yañez said the opposition to the K-to-12 program was just a result of misunderstanding.

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