As the whole community clamors about the implementation of K-to-12, there is this another concerned group directly affected by program, the teachers. Since higher education institutions expect minimal to zero enrolment at the outset of SY 2016-2017, a serious problem on the layoff of teachers was posted. It was even reported by the DepEd that a remarkable 90 percent of permanent faculty members who teach only general education will be retrenched along with the 30 percent non-teaching and contractual staff.
Indeed, the figures are outstanding.
This threat to employment urged affected teachers to ask Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order and rule on their petition to stop the implementation of K-to-12. University of Sto. Tomas in Manila and St. Louis University in Baguio are among the petitioners. They even contested that the right of teachers to security of tenure and protection of labor was violated when they are to be massively displaced or re-assigned. In addition, measures to preserve jobs should have been first discussed with the employees instead of giving outright guidelines for retrenchment and early retirement as in the case of SLU to where faculty members experienced otherwise.
On an attempt to mitigate the effect on workforce, DepEd rehired some displaced college teaching staff as basic education teachers but merely cut half their former salaries from as high as P41, 000 a month to a lowly P19, 940 pay of a Teacher II. Good enough if they will be able to secure a sure slot in teaching senior high school or other general courses, but imagine those who still have to go some retooling seminars to obtain a position. Imagine further a teacher or an ordinary school personnel, as a bread winner, after being retrenched, needing to support a family member’s pursuit of higher education, or in need of expensive medication, or in midst of financial distress. Surely, no one knows how losing a job has never been an option for her.
Of course, no person capable would wish to be unemployed. With the current situation, maybe the thing is, we have to take teaching just like any other professions wherein periods of high demand comes and so do recession and lay off. What may only be saddening is the idea that the government could have avoided the situation by suspending K-to-12 but still chose to have things otherwise.
K-to-12 is now on its fifth year of implementation. Sad as we speak, the government is still not ready, and so are the people. Our country has never really gone so ready. In one way or another, every program after several reviews and all revisions still has its own pitfall. Maybe we just have to take K-to-12 that way. After all, its fruits can be seen come 2022. Maybe by then, issues are already addressed accordingly.
By: Lourdes L. Manguiob | Teacher III | Samal National High School
